Latest News
Pakistan’s COAS says Afghans’ hand in terror incidents harmful to regional peace
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Monday said the “involvement of Afghan nationals” in terrorism incidents in Pakistan was “detrimental to regional peace [and] stability”, Dawn news reported.
The army chief’s remarks came days after the Foreign Office confirmed the involvement of Afghan terrorists in last month’s Zhob cantonment attack.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday said that Munir addressed the incident during a visit to the Martyrs’ Memorial at Bala Hisar Fort in Peshawar, where he met tribal elders among others.
“The involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents in Pakistan is detrimental to regional peace, stability and deviation from the Doha Peace Agreement by the interim Afghan government,” he is quoted as saying.
The agreement was signed in Qatar between the US and Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in February 2020 to bring an end to the 2001–2021 war in Afghanistan.
Expressing concerns over the “sanctuaries available to banned outfits and [the] liberty of action they enjoy on Afghan soil”, Munir said: “Pakistan will spare no effort to dismantle terrorist networks and protect its citizens at all costs.”
The ISPR statement further quoted the COAS as saying: “With the unflinching resolve of the nation, Pakistan is successfully countering terrorism to enable a stable and peaceful environment for socioeconomic development in the area”.
It added that tribal elders assured the armed forces that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its ideology will “never be acceptable to any tribe and they will continue to stand with the state during the thick and thin.”
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the use of Afghan soil by militants for cross-border terrorism.
However, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly rejected these claims. Last week,the IEA’s spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said that Pakistani officials are making baseless accusations against Afghanistan regarding the country’s security situation.
He said: “The Islamic Emirate does not allow anyone to use the territory of Afghanistan against any other country.”
“If there is any concern related to this, it should be shared with the Islamic Emirate face to face, instead of making useless claims in the media and confusing the public mind,” Mujahid said adding: “Because making such claims is not in the interest of both countries and nations.”
The country has seen an uptick in terror activities, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the TTP called off its ceasefire with the government in November last year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan announced on Tuesday the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from prison.
According to the ministry, Coyle’s mother had written to the leader of the Islamic Emirate demanding amnesty and the release of her son on the occasion of Eid. The Supreme Court considered time served sufficient and decided to release him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that this action was carried out on the basis of humanitarianism and good faith, and it believes that such measures can strengthen trust between countries. The ministry also expressed hope that both countries, in the future, can find solutions to remaining issues through mutual understanding and constructive dialogue.
The Islamic Emirate also expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the United Arab Emirates in this matter.
Separately, for Coyle’s release, an American delegation, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, met on Tuesday with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate.
The meeting was also attended by Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, Ambassador of the UAE in Kabul, and a member of the prisoner’s family.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Muttaqi stated that the Islamic Emirate has not detained any citizen of any country to achieve political objectives; rather, detentions were the result of legal violations, and individuals were released after completing judicial procedures.
At the meeting, Khalilzad praised the action of the Islamic Emirate and emphasized the importance of continuing discussions on all issues between the two countries, expressing hope for further progress in the future.
Muttaqi also stressed that Kabul and the UAE should provide standard consular services to their citizens, and that the Afghan government is fully prepared in this regard.
He thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, for their constructive role in facilitating the release of the prisoner and referred to the UAE as a close friend of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Muttaqi had also praised the role of the State of Qatar in facilitating information exchange between the Islamic Emirate and the prisoner’s family.
Additionally, the UAE ambassador expressed his country’s readiness to play a role in humanitarian institutions and called such developments beneficial for everyone.
The United Kingdom has announced an additional £3 million (AFN 257 million) in humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, aimed at supporting people affected by natural disasters and other shocks.
Richard Lindsay, in a post on X, said the funding will be used to provide essential nutrition supplies and related support to vulnerable populations.
The new allocation brings the UK’s total bilateral assistance to Afghanistan for the current financial year to £154 million (AFN 13.18 billion).
Saar: Discussion on criticism of Pakistan’s policies
Islamic Emirate releases American prisoner Dennis Coyle
UK announces additional £3 million in aid for vulnerable people in Afghanistan
Around 2.3 million tourists visited Afghanistan’s recreational areas during Eid: Ghufran
Berlin does not recognize IEA envoy as charge d’affaires of Afghan embassy
Pakistani military jet downed in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad, pilot captured alive
Afghan Air Force conducts airstrikes in Islamabad, other cities
Prominent Muslim scholar issues fatwa calling for Afghanistan-Pakistan ceasefire
Afghan air force strikes key Pakistani military installations in retaliatory operation
IEA: Special circle in Pakistan has launched mission to destabilize region
Tahawol: Possibility of US ground forces entering Iran war discussed
Saar: Using US prisoners as political pressure
Tahawol: Pakistan’s efforts to destabilise Afghanistan
Saar: Decline in international assistance to Afghanistan
Tawsia: Assessment of Afghanistan’s economic activities in 1404
-
Sport4 days agoAfghanistan national buzkashi falls short in Kokpar World Championship semifinals
-
Sport3 days agoIreland to host Afghanistan for ODI series in August
-
Latest News2 days agoDeadly violence likely without dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan: ICG
-
Latest News4 days agoMojtaba Khamenei calls for improved Afghanistan–Pakistan relations, offers help
-
Sport5 days agoFIFA sanctions Israeli Football Association over discrimination violations
-
Latest News4 days agoMalaysian PM welcomes temporary Afghanistan–Pakistan truce, urges lasting peace
-
Latest News5 days agoIEA defense ministry accuses Pakistan of ceasefire violations
-
Latest News1 day agoPakistan seeks Russian mediation to resolve Afghanistan tensions