New Delhi (NVI): Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs today raised concern over the “overt presence and activities of Afghan insurgent elements and their leaders” in Pakistani territory after a series of videos surfaced showing Taliban leaders in Pakistan continuing their terror activities in the country.
In a statement released today, Afghanistan’s foreign ministry has categorically said that the presence of such elements in Pakistan “clearly violates Afghanistan’s national sovereignty.”
The overt presence & activities of Afghan insurgent elements & their leaders in Pakistani territory clearly violate AFG’s national sovereignty & continue to cause crisis and instability in the region, posing a serious challenge to achieving lasting peace in AFG.
Full statement? pic.twitter.com/ZvymKECNz3— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Afghanistan ?? (@mfa_afghanistan) December 25, 2020
“The overt presence and activities of Afghan insurgent elements and their leaders in Pakistani territory clearly violate Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and continue to cause crisis and instability in the region, posing a serious challenge to achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan,” the Ministry said in a statement while urging Pakistan not to allow its territory to be used by insurgents and elements “who insist on continuing the war and bloodshed”.
Afghanistan’s statement came in the backdrop of the visit of Taliban representatives to Pakistan. “The visit of Taliban representatives to Pakistan and their negotiations with Pakistani officials raised further hopes for taking practical steps toward stopping the bloodshed and bringing about sustainable peace in Afghanistan,” the Afghan ministry said.
Pertinent to mention here that a Taliban delegation arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Wednesday (December 16) for a three-day visit, as both sides in the Afghan peace process continue consultations during a break in negotiations.
The Taliban delegation, led by the militant group’s top political leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, met Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign office.
However, the Afghan foreign ministry today said that following the Taliban leaders’ meetings with Pakistani officials, “a series of video footages emerged in which the Taliban appeared among their followers, disclosing the existence of all Taliban leaders in Pakistan and acknowledging their continued activities in Pakistani territory.”
“It is with deepest regret and concern that some Taliban leaders were seen in the videos visiting training camps,” the ministry said.
Among a series of videos going viral on social media, a clipping shows Talibani leader Mullah Fazal Akhund meeting masked men clad in fatigues at a Taliban training camp at an undisclosed location in Pakistan. The men can be seen embracing him and kissing his hand.
In another video that emerged, Taliban deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar can be heard acknowledging that the group makes all decisions related to the Afghan peace talks after consulting its leadership and clerics’ council based in Pakistan.
The footage was recorded when Baradar met wounded Taliban fighters being treated in Karachi during his visit to Pakistan last week as the head of a “political commission” for talks with the leadership in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the Afghan Foreign Ministry has stated that the Government of Afghanistan considers the closure of insurgent and terrorist sanctuaries and the cessation of their activities vital for the peaceful resolution of the Afghan crisis and ensuring regional peace and stability.
“Afghanistan calls once again for the continuation of sincere cooperation and genuine fight against terrorism and common threats,” it added.
-ARK
