Islamabad, Kabul bicker on TTP safe havens

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Pakistan has chided Afghanistan for failing to discharge its obligations made in the Doha peace agreement, drawing a hostile response from the caretaker government in Kabul.

Defence Minister Khwaja Asif accused the interim government of disregarding its pledge to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities.

A day earlier, the Pakistan army voiced its grave concerns over the safe havens and freedom of movement enjoyed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan.

The defence minister tweeted on Saturday that the neighbouring country had badly failed to uphold the commitments it had held out in the Doha deal.

He wrote: “Afghanistan is neither fulfilling its obligation as a neighbouring and brotherly country nor safeguarding the peace agreement.”

Pakistan has provided refuge to six million Afghans for 40 to 50 years. “Conversely, the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis have found refuge on Afghan soil,” he lamented.

If the ongoing situation continued, the minister pledged Pakistan would use all its resources to safeguard its territory and citizens.

In response to Asif’s remarks, the IEA’s spokesman argued the Doha Agreement had been signed with the US -- not with Pakistan.

On Saturday night, Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated the caretaker government’s pledge not to allow the use of Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan.

While calling Pakistan a brotherly Muslim country, he told BBC Pashto Islamabad should share evidence of TTP involvement in terrorist acts cross the Durand Line.

But in the same breath, the IEA spokesman warned that any attack in targets inside Afghanistan from Pakistan would draw a robust response.

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