Will go after terror hideouts if attacks don’t stop: Achakzai

Caretaker Provincial Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Monday expressed concerns over the rising insecurity in Pakistan, linking it to the “hospitality extended to Afghan refugees”.

Addressing a news conference in Quetta, the minister said that Pakistan had been hosting Afghan refugees for the last 40 years but regretted that in return, instead of discouraging terrorism and terror, “it is concerning that they are being given militant hideouts and advanced weaponry.”

Achakzai emphasised Pakistan's opposition to all forms of sabotage and highlighted the repeated demands made to Afghan authorities for the extradition of individuals wanted in connection with sabotage incidents. However, he lamented a lack of cooperation from the Afghan side, stating that instead of collaborating, they seemed to be mere spectators.

According to Achakzai, Pakistan has faced weapons and violence as a result of providing refuge to Afghan refugees, and he stressed that the country will not tolerate such actions.

He asserted that if sabotage incidents persist, the authorities will take decisive action, even entering the houses of saboteurs if necessary. The minister claimed that the Pakistani people stand united with the Chief of Army Staff and accused the Afghan Taliban of offering full support to those involved in acts of sabotage within Pakistan.

He disclosed that six Afghans were found to be involved in a specific incident in Zhob, and despite flag meetings with Afghan authorities, they were perceived as playing a double game.

Achakzai further announced the partial suspension of the Afghan transit trade fair in Chaman and warned against allowing protests to escalate into lawlessness.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2023.