Look for internal solutions, IEA tells Pakistan

ATLANTA (Pajhwok): The interim government has once again rejected Islamabad’s allegations that Afghanistan is involved the current wave of terrorism in Pakistan.

The caretaker administration made clear it did not back terror attacks and would not allow anyone to use Afghanistan’s soil against Pakistan.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said of Pakistani authorities had once again blamed Afghans for insecurity there instead of securing their country.

In a statement, he said IEA emphatically rejects the allegations and reminded Pakistan that Afghanistan itself had just come out of prolonged conflict and did not want any country, especially its neighbours, to be insecure.

He reaffirmed Afghanistan’s stated position that it would not allow anyone to use Afghanistan’s territory against a third country. However, he explained, it did not mean Afghanistan was responsible for the security of any regional country.

Mujahid remarked: “Unfortunately, our region remained the victim of the US-led foreign invasion over the past two decades and wrong policies of some regional countries, whose effects are still being felt."

Therefore, Mujahid stressed, Pakistan must carefully manage its security issues and search solution in within.

The spokesman revealed 18 Pakistani IS-K fighters, who were in involved in explosions and other attacks, had been killed in operations by IEA forces in the past one year.

Dozens of other militants had been arrested in the country and evidence of their activities was available, Mujahid continued.

“Instead of blaming Pakistan for such activities, Afghanistan has tightened its security. Al-hamdu Lillah, we have seen positive outcomes,” he said.

According to Mujahid, if someone targets people in Pakistan or sheds the blood of Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan in the name of Daesh, such issues should be solved collectively. Levelling allegations is not a solution, he insisted.

He said: “A wider conspiracy of targeting religious scholars and seminaries is being hatched in Afghanistan and in the region. Our intelligence had received tips prior to such attacks and conducted operations to prevent them.

“Afghanistan also shared its information with other countries in the region, but unfortunately some of them did not take timely preventive measures.”

Mujahid said: “IEA would like to once say we don’t support attacks in Pakistan and would not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against Pakistan. The prevention of such attacks in Pakistan is not our duty. It is the duty of Pakistani security and intelligence forces, with a big share of the budget.

“Pakistani security institutions must perform their duties instead of trying changing the mentality of their own people and internationals by blaming Afghanistan.”

According to Mujahid, Afghanistan has a responsible government during the past two years and its security has changed positively. If security incidents have increased in Pakistan, it should solve the problem on its own.

Insecurity has seen a spike in Pakistan recently, with Islamabad blaming Kabul for a number of such incidents.

Two days back, Pakistan army chief Gen. Asim Munir told a meeting in Peshawar that there was no place for terrorism in his country and the involvement of Afghans in such incidents was an obstacle to peace and stability in the region.

Gen. Munir, pointing to promises of the interim government, alleged IEA was violating the Doha Agreement.

aw/mud