Pakistan warns Afghanistan of ‘action’ over cross-border attacks

ISLAMABAD, Jul 15 (DNA): Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that
Afghanistan is not fulfilling its responsibility of being a good
neighborly country as it has become a safe haven for terrorists who are
shedding blood of Pakistanis.

He said that this situation cannot continue any longer, warning
Afghanistan that Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land
and citizens.

Taking to his Twitter handle, the defence minister wrote: “Afghanistan
is not fulfilling its responsibility of being a (good) neighbor and
brotherly country. It is not abiding by the Doha agreement. 5-6 million
Afghans have been living on asylum in Pakistan with all rights for the
last 40 to 50 years. On the contrary, the terrorists who shed the blood
of Pakistanis can find safe havens in Afghanistan. This situation cannot
continue any longer. Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its
land and citizens, God willing.”

On Friday, the Pakistan Army media wing, ISPR, expressed serious
concerns about the safe havens and liberty of action available to the
banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan, in its
statement.

The military’s media wing statement came as Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
General Syed Asim Munir visited Quetta Garrison, where he was briefed on
the recent terrorist attack in Zhob in which nine security forces
embraced martyrdom.

The ISPR statement said the Armed Forces of Pakistan have serious
concerns about the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in
Afghanistan.

It is expected that the interim Afghan Government would not allow the
use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real
sense and in line with commitments made in the Doha Agreement.

The involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan is
another important concern that needs to be addressed.

Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit an effective response from
the Security Forces of Pakistan. DNA

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