Islamabad, Pakistan: “Pak-Afghan talks hosted by United Kingdom were inconclusive as Afghanistan refused to accept allegations leveled by Pakistan to host terrorists”
According to sources, talks between Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Sartaj Azizand Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hanif Atmar hosted by UK administration were inconclusive as Pakistan took a stiff stance for opening borders for Afghan transit trade.
Foreign Affairs Advisor of Pakistan Sartaj Aziz wanted a surety from Afghan government as well as from host country (UK) that soil of Afghanistan would not be used to launch terrorism inside Pakistan while Afghan delegation was of the view that Afghanistan had never tried to destabilise Pakistan and did not know where the leadership of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was residing.
However, Afghanistan assured British diplomat, Mark Lyall Grant and Pakistan to control border check posts more effectively in future.
Afghan National Security Adviser (NSA) Hanif Atmar was of the view that Pakistan should open Pak-Afghan borders for trans-border trade under international obligations while Pakistani delegation was of the view that security of their country was top priority and terrorists sitting inside Afghanistan were involved in injecting terrorists inside Pakistan.
February was a bloody month for Pakistan when TTP and its components executed several suicide bombing in Pakistan resulting death of over 150 civilians. Meanwhile attacks on Pakistani check posts bordering Afghanistan are constantly under the attack from Afghan side.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Army General Bajwa discussed this issue with US General John Nicholson recently and explained that terrorist activities from Afghanistan and inaction against terrorists were a constant worry for Pakistan.
