Afghan citizens aiding suicide bombers, says Shehbaz

PM warns certain actors trying to establish hegemony in the region

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned on Wednesday that the militants, launching suicide attacks inside Pakistan, were being helped by the “Afghan citizens” across the border.

However, the prime minister stopped short of accusing Afghanistan’s Taliban government of knowingly allowing attacks from its soil, but he did say that the militants were operating from “sanctuaries” in the neighbouring country.

“The prime minister noted with concern the involvement of the Afghan citizens in the suicide blasts,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement, days after a deadly bombing at a political gathering in Bajaur near the Afghan frontier.

A suicide bomber exploded at a workers convention of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) in the Khar tehsil on Sunday, killing dozens of people. Officials said on Tuesday that the death toll had risen to 56.

Since the Taliban surged back to power in Afghanistan two years ago, Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic uptick in militant attacks focused in the country’s western border regions.

Taliban authorities have consistently pledged not to let Afghan territory be used by foreign militants to stage attacks—a key part of the accord that saw US-led forces leave after a 20-year occupation.

Meanwhile, addressing a ceremony at the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW) to launch Pakistan’s 4th MILGEM Class Corvette ‘PNS Tariq’, Shehbaz said that certain actors were trying to establish their hegemony in the region.

At the ceremony, the visiting Turkish Vice President, Cevdet Yilmaz, offered his condolences over the loss of lives in Bajaur attack and reiterated Turkiye’s “condemnation of terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations”.

Vice President Yilmaz emphasised that the Pakistan-Turkiye defence cooperation was becoming more relevant with enhanced scope, considering the prevailing regional situation.

He said that Pakistan faced the same challenges like Turkiye, such as cross-border terrorism, which necessitated the understanding of the terrorists’ objective and acting totally opposite to their expectations.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz, Vice President Yilmaz and Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Amjad Niazi launched the PNS Tariq. Shehbaz termed the project an enduring symbol of Pak-Turk collaboration.

He said that following these achievements, certain actors were trying to establish their hegemony, adding that the government would provide all-out resources to the Pakistan Navy to augment national security.

The prime minister lauded the leadership role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He said that it was high time for Pakistan and Turkiye to enhance their bilateral strategic cooperation for the prosperity of the two nations.

The MILGEM project, the prime minister added, “is a tangible step towards self-reliance and indigenisation and it will fulfil the critical security needs of the Pakistan Navy”.

“We celebrate each other’s success stories and also stand together in the face of challenges… This is the level of our relations as we share each other’s bounties and sorrows,” he remarked.

He said that following the increasing burden on Port Qasim of Karachi, Pakistan needed to create linkages between Karachi and Gwadar ports as Gwadar was about to become a business centre for the country as well as the region.

Calling the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a “roaring success” he said Pakistan and China had agreed to launch the second phase that would comprise green corridor, business corridor, special economic zones and IT corridors.

He said the second phase was bound to increase the quantum of business transactions and Turkiye was a “natural partner” and reiterated his invitation to Turkiye to join that “wonderful opportunity of prosperity”.

The prime minister also announced a “gift” of Rs200 million for the experts and workers involved in the construction of the MILGEM-IV, with a view to recognising their efforts and for their encouragement.

CNS Admiral Niazi said the MILGEM project would become an emblem of the Pakistan-Turkiye friendship. He also highlighted the opportunities of regional connectivity being provided by CPEC.

Turkish Deputy Defence Minister Celal Sami said that the MILGEM project was the manifestation of exemplary bilateral relations. He announced that Turkiye was ready to take part in building Jinnah Class Frigate.

Federal ministers Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Ahsan Iqbal, Syed Naveed Qamar and Israr Tareen, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also attended the ceremony.