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Pakistan asks IEA to hand over TTP leaders

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Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to hand over leaders of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakis­tan (TTP) and other members of the group.

At a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the attack, in which five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed, was planned in Afghanistan and executed with the help of handlers and facilitators based in Pakistan.

He added that the attack was “completely operated” from Afgha­nistan and planned to specifically target Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

“TTP leadership planned this attack as a flagship project, and enemy intelligence agencies paid them heavily for the attack,” the minister said, without giving more details.

The minister demanded IEA arrest three individuals named Bakhtiar Shah, Qari Abdullah and Khan Lala, along with TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, its Malakand Commander Azmatullah and the entire leadership of the group.

“We want good ties with Afgha­nistan, but for that it is important they arrest these terrorists, prosecute them or hand them to us.”

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have soured in recent months. Islamabad says Kabul is not doing enough to tackle militant groups targeting Pakistan.

“Pakistan has raised this issue with the interim government of Afghanistan and stressed that they should act against the terrorists operating there, but so far, we have not received any good results,” Naqvi said.

He said that militants were “exploiting the weakness of the interim Afghan government”.

When asked what Pakistan would do if the Afghan government doesn’t cooperate, Naqvi said then “the government will take a unilateral decision”.

The interior minister’s remarks came almost two weeks after Pakistan military spokesman Major-General Ahmed Sharif said the attack was planned in Afghanistan, and the suicide bomber was also an Afghan national.

National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) coordinator Rai Tahir, who also addressed the press conference, said that the attacker, identified as Muttaqi alias Taqi, hailed from Afghanistan.

Security forces have so far arrested 11 suspects, including the alleged Pakistani handlers.

They were identified as Adil Sheh­baz, Shafiq Qureshi, Zahid Qureshi, Nazeer Hussain, Faizullah, Fasihu­llah, Imran Swati, Sakha­ullah, Abd­u­llah, Abdul Rehman and Kamal Khan.

Rai said the attacker had travelled from Afghanistan four months before the attack and lived with his alleged Pakistani handlers — Adil Shazeb and Shafiq Qureshi — who prepared him for the attack.

The alleged suicide bomber was trained in Afghanistan’s Kunar province and was one of the four terrorists who crossed into Pakistan in Nov 2023, the Nacta chief said.

He said a Malakand-based car showroom owner allegedly helped TTP militants in smuggling the car, fitted with explosives, into Pakistan from Chaman.

When Naqvi was asked how a car fitted with explosives managed to travel around 1,000km inside Pakistan without being detected, he said security officials stopped the vehicle for checking, but no suspicion was raised.

He claimed action had been taken against officials over negligence in checking the car thoroughly.

The IEA’s defence ministry has rejected Pakistan’s allegations that Afghans were involved in an attack on Chinese engineers.

“Afghans are not involved in such matters,” Enayatullah Khorazmim, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said earlier this month.

“Blaming Afghanistan for such incidents is a failed attempt to divert attention from the truth of the matter and we strongly reject it,” he added.

 

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IEA’s PM urges opponents to take advantage of general amnesty

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdussalam Hanafi said in his Eid speech at Sapidar palace that Eid is now celebrated in Afghanistan in a peaceful environment.

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In his speech before the Eid prayer on Monday, Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund called on opponents of the Islamic Emirate to take advantage of the general amnesty and live a peaceful life inside the country.

According to a statement released by the PM’s office, Hassan asked the officials and forces of the Islamic Emirate to treat the people with courtesy and respect.

He also called on businessmen to assist orphans, widows and poor families.

The prime minister performed the Eid prayer in Arg together with some members of the cabinet, civil and military officials and representatives of different sections of society.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Abdussalam Hanafi said in his Eid speech at Sapidar palace that Eid is now celebrated in Afghanistan in a peaceful environment.

He expressed hope that Afghanistan will reach permanent stability and development.

 

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Afghan, Iranian acting FMs discuss bilateral cooperation, Gaza war

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Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani in a phone call with his Afghan counterpart on Sunday discussed bilateral cooperation and the situation in war-ravaged Gaza.

According to a statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Baqeri announced Iran’s readiness to help Afghanistan resolve the challenges it is facing and achieve development.

He called for joint action by Islamic countries to exert pressure on Israel and bring an end to its attacks against Palestinians in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Muttaqi congratulated Baqeri on Eid al-Adha, and described ties between the two countries as good. He expressed hope that mutual cooperation is expanded further.

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IEA’s supreme leader ‘ready to quit’ if asked to, but won’t tolerate division

He also emphasized the need to ensure women’s Shariah rights and said that they should be given their inheritance rights.

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Stressing the importance of unity, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), said in his Eid al-Adha speech on Monday he is ready to step down from his position if asked to, but he does not want division.

Akhundzada said that the enemies will benefit from division among Afghans.

“I don’t want division. If one day everyone unanimously dismisses me from this position, I will accept it, but I will not accept dispute and division. Grip on power is strengthened with division. If I try to divide people, they will not agree on me. They will be engaged in disputes among themselves. But I don’t want that. This is Pharaoh’s policy. This is a satanic policy,” he said.

The leader of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that the current system is a Sharia-based system and should be strengthened. He said that this government ensures justice, but only if there is unity.

“Try to create brotherhood and unity among yourselves,” he said. “Almighty Allah is testing us… we should put aside our worldly and satanic desires and submit ourselves to the pleasure of Allah… We were not created to achieve worldly desires, to earn money and to gain worldly honor. Rather, we were created to serve Allah.”

Akhundzada recommended that each other’s faults should not be expressed openly, but in secret.

He also emphasized the need to ensure women’s Shariah rights and said that they should be given their inheritance rights.

In his speech, the leader of the Islamic Emirate also addressed the issue of Palestine and prayed that Allah would make the Palestinians victorious against Israel.

He said that the superpowers of the world neglect the killing of women and children in Gaza, but offer advice to the Islamic Emirate.

“Women and children are martyred. How do you advise me and request me and want me to accept your demands? Both infidels and Muslims have closed their eyes. Brothers! Today it is you who raise the voice of Islam. The world has bid farewell to Islam,” he said.

 

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