PAKISTAN has always demonstrated goodwill and open heartedness towards the Afghan people.
Besides hosting millions of refugees over the last many decades and accepting more in the last few months, Pakistan in fact is the only strong voice which is raising the issue of Afghan humanitarian crisis and for this purpose also hosted a special OIC conference in Islamabad.
Also on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr, Pakistan has opened Torkham border to facilitate the Afghans to celebrate Eid in their homeland.
It is, however, really unfortunate that the current Taliban regime just like the previous government of Ashraf Ghani is also resorting to pointing fingers on Pakistan.
The recent statement by Afghanistan’s acting Defence Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob that his country is facing problems and challenges from the world and neighbours and also accused Pakistan of invasion in Kunar.
He went on to say that the Taliban Administration would not tolerate invasions from its neighbours. Pakistan has yet not confirmed any involvement in air-strikes inside Afghanistan’s borders.
Indeed, Afghanistan is an independent and sovereign country which must be respected but the new Afghan set-up must also realize that despite its repeated promises, their soil is still being used by terrorists for attacks in Pakistan.
Unfortunately, elements of banned terrorist groups in the border region, including TTP, have continued to attack Pakistan’s border security posts, resulting in the martyrdom of our security personnel.
Just this month, two such despicable incidents have taken place. Hence, instead of blaming Pakistan, the Taliban government needs to put its own house in order, fulfil the promise made with the Pakistani authorities and take concrete action against the terrorist organizations operating from its soil.
Otherwise, the continued attacks from Afghanistan will compel Pakistani side to do the needful to protect its side of the border.
We should also engage with the Taliban government to remind it of their obligations. Taking action against the terrorist outfits is also in the interest of the Taliban government for peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Then this will also demonstrate to the international community that the new Afghan set-up is serious against terrorism.
