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Kabul: Afghanistan Ministry of Defense in a statement on Monday said that the recent speech of the Pakistani Interior Minister about the presence of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan and their possible attack inside Afghanistan, is considered as “provocation and baseless”.
According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, the allegations damage the good relations between the two neighbouring and brotherly countries.
Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah recently said that Pakistan will target TTP hideouts inside Afghanistan. “When these problems arise, we first ask Afghanistan, our Islamic brother nation, to eliminate these hideouts and hand over these individuals to us, but if that doesn’t happen, Islamabad will target these hideouts inside Afghanistan,” the Pakistan minister had said.
According to the Taliban Defence Ministry, Pakistan officials make such claims despite the existence of evidence indicating that the (TTP) centres are inside Pakistan. “We request that any concerns and problems should be resolved through understanding, the Taliban-led Ministry”, said in a statement on its official website.
Afghanistan is not without its owner, as always, we are ready to defend the territorial integrity and independence of our homeland, and it is mentionable that we have a better experience than anyone in defending and protecting our country, the statement read.
The Taliban has advised Pakistan to refrain from such statements and instead share its concerns with Kabul.
The statement comes at a time when Pakistan’s top civil and military brass are joining heads for the second round of the all important National Security Committee (NSC) meeting on Monday, where final approvals for a fresh military offensive will be undertaken to tackle the fast spreading wave of terror.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorism incidents, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as well as the border areas of the two nations, during the past couple of months after the TTP announced to end ceasefire with Pakistan.
Also responding to Sanaullah’s remark, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said they would not allow anyone to attack Afghanistan.
The spokesperson stated that Afghanistan wants to have good relations with Pakistan and that its officials should use caution when speaking.
