ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan has strongly rejected the baseless allegations and insinuations of the Afghan Caretaker Foreign Minister in India.
The Foreign Office spokesperson termed it as an attempt to divert attention from the terrorist elements present in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement that the Taliban government cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities for regional peace and stability through baseless claims.
The reports of the United Nations Monitoring Team have pointed out in detail that terrorist elements are present on Afghan soil and are allowed to operate freely.
The statement said that the unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban, Fitna al-Khawarij, and Fitna al-Hindistan on the Pak-Afghan border on the night of October 11 and 12 is a cause for concern.
The spokesperson noted that such unprovoked actions taken to destabilize the border areas are against the spirit of peaceful neighborliness and cooperative relations between the two brotherly countries.
The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan, exercising its right to self-defense, not only effectively repelled these attacks in all areas of the border but also inflicted heavy losses in terms of lives, finances and infrastructure on the Taliban forces and their allies, the Khawarij.
The statement said that these were facilities that were being used to plan and support terrorist acts against Pakistan. During Pakistan’s befitting response, every effort was made to ensure that civilians and property were not harmed.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan attaches great importance to dialogue, diplomacy and mutually beneficial relations with Afghanistan.
However, the government of Pakistan is closely monitoring the situation and will take all necessary measures to protect its people and territory.
The statement clarified that if any further provocation is made by any side, it will be given a befitting and strong response.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan has made it clear that the war on terrorism is a common goal.
Instead of shirking its responsibilities, the Taliban government must fulfill its promises that it will not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against any other country, and it must play a positive role in establishing regional peace and stability.
The statement added that Pakistan has repeatedly shared its concerns with the Taliban government about the Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindistan operating from Afghan soil, and has expressed its expectation that the Taliban government will take concrete and verifiable steps against these terrorist elements.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan has hosted nearly four million Afghan citizens for the past four decades in the spirit of brotherly neighborliness, Islamic brotherhood and humanitarianism.
Now Pakistan will take all necessary steps to regulate the presence of Afghan citizens on its soil in accordance with international norms and laws.
The statement said that Pakistan desires a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected and prosperous Afghanistan.
Pakistan expects the Taliban government to behave responsibly, fulfill its promises, and play a constructive role in achieving the common goal of eliminating terrorism from its soil.
The spokesperson said Pakistan hopes that one day the Afghan people will be able to live freely under a truly representative government.
