Stem the tide of Islamic State, Kabul exhorts Islamabad

Afghanistan complains it was not consulted on the construction of a gate on Torkham border

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Tuesday pushed Pakistan to do more to stop terrorists from the ultra-extremist group Da’ish from crossing into the country just days after the group claimed a massive terror attack in Kabul.

Kabul also complained that it was not consulted on the constructions of a gate on the Torkham border.



During a trilateral meeting between senior military officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States at the Afghan Defence Ministry in Kabul, issues pertaining to Da’ish were discussed.

Da’ish, the Arabic acronym for Islamic State, had claimed responsibility for Saturday’s twin suicide attacks on a peaceful protest by Afghanistan's Hazara minority that left 80 people dead and over 230 injured. It was one of the most deadly attacks in Afghanistan since 2001.



"The Afghan DGMO [Director General Military Operations] shared details of the measures [taken] by the Afghan government to eliminate Da’ish and requested [that] the Pakistani army should take similar action against Da’ish," read the Pashto and Dari-language statements from the Afghan Defence Ministry after the meeting.

Curiously during the meeting, Afghanistan referred to Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed as the leader of Da’ish in Afghanistan rather than Hafiz Saeed Khan, a former leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Orakzai who currently leads the Da’ish-Khorasan chapter.

The NATO-led coalition advising Afghan government forces estimates there are between 1,000-3,000 Da’ish fighters in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, with its DGMO leading a delegation including representatives of important ministries and security agencies, had yet to release a statement about the meeting.



Later, during a bilateral meeting between Pakistan and Afghanistan DGMOs, Kabul complained about the gate Islamabad is building on its side of the Torkham border.

"The Afghan DGMO of the defence ministry showed concerns at the Pakistani firing on the Afghan side and construction of the military installations on the Durand Line,” the statement said adding, “Pakistan was told that the construction is being made without consultation of the Afghan government."

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2016.