PAKISTAN’S Foreign Office on Thursday described a resolution by Afghan scholars opposing the use of Afghan territory for cross-border attacks as a “positive development”. The remarks follow reports from Afghan media that a meeting of the country’s scholars at Kabul University emphasized that the country’s soil must not be used to threaten or harm any other nation.
The adoption of resolution by scholars is a welcome development as it indicates growing realization on the part of the Afghan public opinion that the country’s soil must not be allowed for activities against other countries. However, this is not an official declaration and it would carry significance only if this is formally adopted as an official policy by the Taliban Government, which is openly pampering terrorist outfits as part of the tactics to pressure Pakistan. That is why the FO spokesperson has demanded for written assurances from Kabul that Afghan territory will not be allowed to be used by terrorist groups to launch attacks inside Pakistan. This is what Pakistan wanted during peace talks but Kabul showed abstinence leading to collapse of the dialogue process. The Taliban regime should reconsider its policy in line with changing public opinion and the justified demand of Pakistan.
