Afghanistan Times
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Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Pakistan’s Intelligence Service (ISI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will see both countries working closely together to fight terror, officials have confirmed.
Based on the agreement, ISI will also train and equip the NDS. In addition, Afghanistan and Pakistan will each fight terrorism and both institutions will investigate accused individuals behind any terror incident within their respective countries. The MoU was signed by the first deputy of the NDS with Pakistan a few days ago, sources told TOLOnews.
“The memorandum of understanding between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not a new thing. In the past, both institutions had such agreements, but now the focus of this agreement is mostly on jointly fighting terrorism,” says Ajmal Abedi, President Ashraf Ghani’s spokesman.
However, officials from the previous government told TOLOnews that no such MoU was signed in the past.
Abedi meanwhile said that Afghanistan and Pakistan both face similar security threats.
“Afghanistan has a proactive policy now, and both countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, now understand that they have to jointly fight terrorism because both countries are suffering from this security threat,” said Abedi.
The ISI Director has visited Kabul twice in the past 10 days. Once with the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and once on his own.
In the past 13 years, fingers have often been pointed at ISI – accusing them of orchestrating attacks in Afghanistan. But since the creation of the National Unity Government (NUG), the strategy of government has changed and in recent times Pakistan has emphasized that it is a friend of Afghanistan and will support the country in its quest for peace. (Tolo News)
