PM Abbasi rejects US claims of militant hideouts in Pakistan

Cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan is the order of the day, says prime minister

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has rejected United States allegations that Pakistan offers sanctuary to militants, saying attacks in the region were originating across the border in Afghanistan.

In an interview with Bloomberg on November 24 in Islamabad, Premier Abbasi said Pakistan would act against terrorists found within its borders, including the Haqqani network.

“We have asked them to share any intelligence about the Haqqani network, we will take action,” the prime minister said.



“The attacks, however, are being made from across the border; we have pinpointed even the sanctuaries of the attackers. Cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan is the order of the day.”

Pakistan and the US are at loggerheads over US President Donald Trump’s demands in August that the country takes tougher action against terrorists operating within its borders as part of a US attempt to bring resolution to the 16-year-old war in Afghanistan.

However, the Pakistani government and its military protested that the US failed to recognise the sacrifices of thousands of its soldiers and civilians who had martyred in the war on terror.

Rising US pressure

Pakistan has long been accused of covertly supporting outfits that strike Afghanistan and India, an allegation Islamabad has denied. The US officials have also kept up the pressure on it to do more and take action against militants. General Joseph Votel, Commander US Central Command, met army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa two weeks ago following US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s trip to Islamabad in October.

On Tuesday, US General John Nicholson, the top commander in Afghanistan, told reporters that he believed senior Taliban leaders are based in Pakistan, while the lower-level leadership is in Afghanistan.



“Taliban leaders are living in comfort outside of the country with plenty of drug money while the rank and file fighters were dying in Afghanistan,” CNN had quoted General Nicholson as saying.

PM Abbasi also said: “There is no room for them to take a tough stance here because Pakistan is the country which is fighting the war on terror,” adding, “Somebody gives us intelligence and we will act upon it. It is our war, not theirs.”

When asked if Pakistan would move against Taliban leaders who have allegedly lived for years in Quetta, Premier Abbasi said, “We will act against them if they really exist.”

He reiterated that President Trump’s troop increase and support to Afghanistan will end in failure and urged the Afghan government and the Taliban to agree to peace talks.

“We have assured them of whatever assistance we would be able to offer, but things are quite fragmented on that side,” he said. “Pakistan has tried twice, but the talks have been sabotaged.”

Mumbai attacks

The Washington criticised Islamabad after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered last week release of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (Jud) Chief Hafiz Saeed from house arrest when both India and the US have already accused him of masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.



The White House also warned that his release may damage bilateral ties between Pakistan and the US.

“The court, a three-judge bench, has released him saying there are no charges against him, the country has a law you know,” PM Abbasi said.

“Prosecute him [JuD chief] internationally if there is substance to these charges – these are accusations only. No evidence has been provided by India,” he added.

This story originally appeared on Bloomberg.