Kabul: In a fresh face-off between Islamabad and Kabul, Afghanistan’s rulers Taliban have categorically rejected allegations of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said Pakistan was blaming it “for its own failures to maintain law and order situation internally”.
The Taliban regime was reacting to claims by Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khwaja Asif that the TTP were being provided “safe havens” in Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
Gen Munir and Asif issued the statements, along with threats of action, after the Pakistan Army Cantonment in Zhob in Balochistan was stormed by 5-member suicide attackers on July 13, killing 9 soldiers and leaving 15 injured.
Asif said the Taliban regime was not fulfilling its obligation outlined in the Doha Agreement of February 2020, wherein it had pledged not to allow use of Afghan land against any of neighbours, including ‘brotherly’ country Pakistan.
Asif accused the Taliban regime of violating the pledge by allowing safe havens to TTP which has been attacking Pakistan.
Prior to that, Gen Munir said “the Armed forces of Pakistan have serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan. It is expected that interim Afghanistan government would not allow the use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in Doha Agreement,”
Responding to these statements, spokesman for Afghan Interim Government, Zabiullah Mujahid, pointed out that Pakistan was not a part of the Doha Agreement which was signed between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban) and the United States.
He said the IEA (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) maintains relations with Pakistan outside the Doha Agreement while considering it as a Muslim brotherly neighbour.
Rejecting the allegation that TTP was being provided ‘safe havens’ in Afghanistan, Zabiullah Mujahid asserted that Afghanistan’s soil is not used against Pakistan since it would cause insecurity in the entire region, which is not in the interest of Afghanistan.
“Pakistan blames us for its own failure in maintenance of law and order situation internally,” the Afghan regime spokesman said.
“There is no TTP in Afghanistan. If Pakistan has any evidence, it should share it with us. We will consider it and take action,” Zabiullah Mujahid said.
The TTP has already been asserting that it has no presence in Afghanistan and that its bases are located within Pakistan itself.
Also read: TTP calls Pakistan Army ‘slave’ force, says its Chief is frightened by attacks
Khwaja Asif, while blaming the Afghan Taliban, also issued a veiled threat to it, saying “Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land and citizens.”
Gen Munir went a step ahead by saying that Afghan nationals were involved in “acts of terrorism in Pakistan” and that “such attacks are intolerable and would elicit effective response from the security forces of Pakistan.”
The issue has been a major area of friction between Pakistan and the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan amidst growing operations by TTP.
The issue may escalate between the two countries as the TTP has been stepping up its attacks.
The TTP, on November 28 last year, declared an open war against the “unholy” Pakistan Army and other security agencies with the objective of imposing Shariah Law in the country.
