Pak-Afghan tit-for-tat continues

Kabul rebuffs Durrani prediction of 9/11 scenario repeating itself

ISLAMABAD:

Kabul and Islamabad are embroiled in a fresh diplomatic spat after the latter's senior diplomat warned that another 9/11-esque attack could originate from Afghanistan.

In response to Ambassador Asif Durrani's statement, the Afghan interim government reacted sharply on Tuesday and rejected the remarks.

"Afghanistan has almost been forgotten," Pakistan's ambassador said. "There is no doubt about it, and this was, in fact, highlighted during the Doha 3 session in June. Humanitarian assistance is not up to the mark. Even last year, only one-third of the commitments were fulfilled," remarked Pakistan's special representative on Afghanistan during a talk at the ambassadors' lounge.

He said after the Ukraine war and Palestinian genocide, priorities of international players have changed. "In fact, Afghanistan is no longer in the news. Forget about the front or back pages, it is even absent from the inside pages."

Durrani warned that such conditions could push Afghanistan back into the conditions which gave birth to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in US soil.

However, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly claimed that such threats were more likely to emerge from Pakistan.

The deputy spokesperson for the ministry said Afghanistan is stable and secure. According to Tolonews, he also claimed that the complete eradication of the ISIS threat would be possible if the group's hideouts along the Durand Line were neutralised.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal further insisted that Afghanistan was no longer reliant on foreign loans and aid. "Instead, the nation is making significant strides toward economic self-sufficiency by harnessing its own resources," he said.

"The issues and threats that he (Durrani) referred to as coming from Afghanistan are, in reality, more likely to come from Pakistan. Afghanistan is now a stable country that is working towards self-sufficiency by utilising its mineral resources, rather than relying on loans and foreign aid," Takal said.

The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mentioned the suppression of Daesh in the country and added that the TTP was Pakistan's internal issue.

The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the Taliban came into power three years ago.

Durrani said Pakistan welcomed peace and stability in Afghanistan, but this had become a problem due to the TTP. He claimed a 70 per cent increase in TTP attacks since the Taliban takeover in Kabul.