'Irreconcilable elements' not to be spared

Pakistan, Afghanistan decide to move effectively against fugitives posing security threats to country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take action against ‘irreconcilable elements’, posing security threats to either of the two neighbours in a significant decision that may help them find a common ground for the Afghan endgame.

The understanding -- reached during Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s daylong trip to Kabul on Friday -- was part of a series of steps the two sides have agreed upon to not only improve bilateral ties but to also find a political solution to the never-ending conflict in Afghanistan.

The two sides; however, did not identify the ‘irreconcilable elements’. Officials familiar with the development explained that the two countries would mutually decide on the issue.

In the past, Afghanistan repeatedly urged Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network -- an Afghan Taliban affiliated group that carried out some of the deadliest attacks targeting both the Afghan and US interests.

Pakistan always maintained that it would not fight the Afghan war on its soil.



But the latest agreement that was officially acknowledged by the Foreign Office on Sunday appears to suggest that Pakistan is willing to take on elements not ready to come to the negotiating table.

Although a joint statement was issued at the conclusion of Abbasi’s visit to Kabul on Friday, Islamabad on Sunday released another handout providing specific details.

The statement said Prime Minister Abbasi and President Ashraf Ghani agreed on key principles to operationalise the working groups under Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS).

While Pakistan reaffirmed its support to the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process, the two countries decided to undertake “effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries”.



At the same time both the countries agreed to deny use of their respective territory by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country.

The two sides also decided to put in place a joint supervision, coordination and confirmation mechanism through liaison officers (LOs) for the realisation of agreed actions.

The two countries commit to avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other’s territory.

In another major step to build confidence, the two countries agreed to avoid public blame game and instead use APAPPS cooperation mechanisms to respond to mutual issues of contention and concerns.

The outcome was thought to be the result of concerted overt and covert efforts by Pakistan and Afghanistan to remove irritants in their bilateral ties.



The process began in October last year when Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had undertaken a visit to Kabul where he held in-depth discussions with top Afghan political and military leadership.

It was at that meeting when Pakistan proposed a new framework, envisaging a raft of measures to improve bilateral ties between the two countries as well as working together for finding a political solution to the Afghan conflict.