Army brass rebuffs Kabul’s ‘unwarranted accusations’

Corps commanders discuss situation in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks

ISLAMABAD: Top military commanders on Tuesday took exception to what they called ‘unwarranted accusations and threats against Pakistan’ in the wake of recent upsurge in terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, urging Kabul to look inward to find answers to the current mess in the war-torn country.

The reaction came after the special corps commanders’ conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi to discuss the situation in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks including the deadly truck bombing in Kabul.

Presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the unscheduled corps commanders’ meeting discussed the allegations levelled by Afghan authorities against Pakistan in the wake of Kabul blast.

The Afghan intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS), blamed that the attack was planned by Haqqani network in Pakistan with the help of ISI.

Also on Tuesday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani used an international conference held in Kabul to point fingers at Pakistan for destabilising his country.

PR292/17
Spec Corps Comds Conf. Reviewed regional security envmt. Expressed solidarity with Afg people & forces on recent loses. (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/a8TP81wwpQ

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 6, 2017

CCC. Accusations & threats against Pak after Kabul blasts unwarranted. Pak Army shall defend motherland against all types of threat.(2 of 2) pic.twitter.com/Zuq9o0N8Ar

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 6, 2017

Ghani lashed out at Pakistan at the Kabul Process, alleging that it is waging an "undeclared war of aggression" against Afghanistan.

"What will it take to convince Pakistan that a stable Afghanistan helps them and helps our region?” the Afghan President remarked before a gathering of 23 nations, the European Union, the United Nations and Nato.

The corps commanders, according to the official handout released by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), took exception to the unwarranted accusations and threats against Pakistan in the aftermath of Kabul blast.

“The forum also concluded that instead of blaming Pakistan, Afghanistan needs to look inward and identify the real issues.”

While reaffirming continued support to regional peace and stability, the top commanders reiterated Pakistan Army's resolve to defend the motherland against all types of threat.



“Forum expressed solidarity with Afghan people and security forces on loss of precious lives and vowed to continue its support and cooperation with Afghanistan in fight against terrorism and militancy,” the ISPR said.

Despite tensions, Pakistan sent a two-member delegation headed by Tasnim Aslam, Additional Secretary UN and Economic Cooperation to the Kabul meeting.

The decision is attributed to Pakistan’s consistent policy of supporting efforts seeking a peaceful end to the long running conflict in Afghanistan.

Kabul, however, views Islamabad’s role in Afghan peace process with suspicion as it often accused the country’s security establishment of sheltering the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan had in the past brokered face-to-face talks between Kabul and the Taliban. The process, however, collapsed after the confirmation of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar.

Hopes for reviving the moribund peace initiative were dashed when Mullah Omar’s successor Mullah Akhtar Mansur was killed in a drone strike in Balochistan in July 2015.

Since then the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has continued to slide with both sides accusing the other of turning a blind eye towards the militant groups operating along their shared border.