FO calls for 'global attention' on US arms left in Afghanistan

Spokesperson says weapons left behind during US withdrawal have 'fallen in hands of Afghan terrorists'

ISLAMABAD:

Commenting on the recent clashes along the Pak-Afghan border, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said on Friday that the weapons left in Afghanistan during the US withdrawal require global attention as they had "fallen in the hands of Afghan terrorists".

In a weekly media briefing, spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that Pakistan's security agencies were determined to eradicate terrorism from the country. She added that Pakistan has informed the interim Afghan government about its concerns regarding the recent incident along the border.

Mumtaz further said that the issue of terrorist attacks from Afghanistan has been raised with the Afghan authorities. “We do not blame anyone but weapons left in Afghanistan require global attention since they have fallen in the hands of terrorist groups now,” she said.

Commonwealth London conference

The FO said that Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will preside over the Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Conference in London from September 12 to 15 to meet the leaders from various countries.

She also addressed the issue of continuous human rights violations in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir of India (IIOJK). International human rights organisations have written letters to inform G20 countries of the restrictions on freedom of expression and atrocities in the illegally occupied Kashmir, she said.

Read Torkham border shuts after Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmish

The spokesperson exclaimed that the Indian government should focus on the challenges of its own people, and refrain from passing unnecessary comments on Pakistan.

When asked about Pakistan's economic situation, Baloch abstained from commenting.

“Pakistan and Russia have important relations. The caretaker foreign minister is finalising matters regarding the UK visit,” she added.

Torkham border clash

The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for the second day on Thursday after clashes between security forces of both the countries.

A day earlier, a gun battle erupted between Pakistan and Afghan border forces, with each side blaming the other for starting the firefight that shut their busiest trade crossing.

The closure caused a lot of difficulties for the people as two bodies of Afghan citizens were lying at the crossing point while dozens of patients were waiting for the gate to reopen.

Citizens, including children, women and patients, are trapped, while business activities have been suspended. Due to the closure, long queues of hundreds of freight vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the border.

"Afghan forces tried to establish a check post in an area where it is agreed... that both sides will not establish a check post," Pakistan local administration official Irshad Mohmand said on Wednesday.