Pakistan PM Seeks ‘Concrete Measures’ From Kabul Against Terrorism

August 3, 2023 12:21 pm

Kabul: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the interim Afghan government to take “concrete measures towards denying its soil to be used for transnational terrorism.”

Sharif’s iffice quote him in a statement saying he “noted with concern the involvement of the Afghan citizens in the suicide blasts and liberty of action available to the element’s hostile to Pakistan in planning and executing such attacks on innocent civilians from the sanctuaries across the border.”

This comes as Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told a press conference that Pakistan’s position toward Afghanistan is clear and they want the current government in Afghanistan not to use its soil for terrorism.

Zardari said they are ready to fight against terrorism together with the current government of Afghanistan.

Asadullah Nadim, a military analyst, said that Pakistan wants to take credit from some certain countries and is creating propaganda against Afghanistan.

“The Pakistanis want to make a case against Afghanistan and against the government which exists in Afghanistan now, and take credit from some powerful countries of the world,” Nadim said.

Meanwhile, Matthew Miller, the spokesman for the US State Department, said that in the Doha meeting with “leaders of the Taliban,” they discussed the issue of the US detainees in Afghanistan and also the resumption of flights, counter-narcotics, and combatting terrorism.

Miller added that in the meeting they made clear to the Islamic Emirate the need to “not allow Afghanistan to be used as a base for terrorist attacks in the region or anywhere else.”

Regarding recognition of the Islamic Emirate, Miller said “That’s not where we are right now for a number of reasons, including the treatment of their own people, including their many flagrant human rights violations.”

But the Islamic Emirate denied the use of Afghan soil by others, saying that Pakistan should solve its internal issues instead of blaming Afghanistan.

“The Pakistani side must solve their problems inside their country. They should prevent security incidents and provide security and should not link their security issues to Afghanistan,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.

Pakistani officials have repeatedly claimed that Afghan soil is being used by the TTP.