ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of a tragic terrorist assault in Peshawar that left over 100 people dead, mainly police officers. Pakistan demanded the interim Afghan government on Thursday to take “concrete steps” against terrorist groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, “Pakistan expects sincere cooperation from the interim Afghan government to address the challenge of terrorism and hopes that Kabul would live up to the commitments made to the international community in this regard,”.
She was responding to Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting foreign minister of Afghanistan, who stated on Tuesday that Pakistan shouldn’t hold Afghanistan responsible for the explosion at a mosque in Peshawar.
Muttaqi said, Afghanistan does not have a terrorist base. However, its territory will not be utilized to attack other nations. However, the reaction from the foreign office official revealed that Pakistan was not persuaded.
Without specifically addressing Afghanistan, she stated, that “We do not believe in accusations or finger-pointing; but, we would repeat our expectation that no nation should allow its territory to be utilized for carrying out terrorism against Pakistan.”
Furthermore, the Afghan Taliban’s pledge to stop terrorism from using Afghan territory once more. The spokesman highlighted that “it is time the duties made to the world and Pakistan are followed with honesty and in good faith with practical steps.”
Despite the fatal terrorist strikes in Peshawar perhaps having links to Afghanistan, the spokesperson’s circumspect response makes it seem as though Pakistan did not want to damage its relations with Kabul.
Given the liberty with which the TTP and its associates operate out of Afghanistan, some observers find this shocking. While Pakistan reportedly adopted a more circumspect stance in public, strong messages were reportedly sent to the administration in secret discussions.
“We treat the loss of innocent life seriously and would anticipate that our neighbors would as well. The threat of terrorism affects both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The statement said, “We must take a strong position against organizations that employ violence against law officers and innocent bystanders.
The official claimed Pakistan has launched an inquiry but avoided directly blaming Afghanistan for the Peshawar assault, adding that “we would not wish to delve into details of the investigation or the circumstances behind the tragedy.”
When asked if Pakistan will cross the border in hot pursuit if the Afghan government did nothing to stop the TTP, the official declined to respond.
The spokesman said that Pakistan has “the desire and the ability,” which it had previously shown, to combat the threat of terrorism. When asked about Pakistan and the US working together to combat the TTP’s resurgence. The spokesman said that Pakistani troops were equipped to handle this danger.
“We continue to engage with all allies of Pakistan, including the US, to discuss cooperation on topics pertaining to counterterrorism, security challenges, and other bilaterally significant issues,” she added.
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