Pakistan backs Trump's stance on US weapons in Afghanistan

FO rejects Indian FM's 'baseless claims' on AJK

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has backed the Trump administration's move to take back weapons worth billions of dollars that the US forces left behind in Afghanistan after they withdrew from the country in August 2021.

"We have supported the idea that the US can try to get its weapons back. Our concern is that those weapons have been found being used by terrorists in their operations inside Pakistan. We have flagged it. If the US can make any efforts to get those weapons back, it would be helpful for the overall regional security environment," Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told the media during his weekly news briefing on Thursday.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned what he termed the Biden administration's disastrous strategy to withdraw from Afghanistan. Trump was of the view that the US should not have left sophisticated weapons in Afghanistan nor at the Bagram Airbase. He has announced his intension to seek the return of US weapons from Afghanistan.

Pakistan has welcomed the move since it is concerned that US weapons were being used by terrorist groups.

The spokesperson when asked about the Bagram Airbase said it was a matter between Afghanistan and the US.

Amid a renewed hope of a potential thaw in the relationship, the spokesperson said recent cooperation between Pakistan and the US reflected longstanding ties.

President Trump on Tuesday praised Pakistan for helping the US in capturing key Daesh commander, who was involved in the Kabul Airport attack that left 13 American servicemen dead.

The CIA Director, National Security Adviser and Defense Secretary acknowledged the positive role of Pakistan.

The CIA director and ISI chief were in contact to nab Muhammad Shareefullah, who was identified as one of the masterminds of the August 2021 terrorist attack.

"Our security cooperation with the US has been an ongoing process. Security, counterterrorism, and intelligence cooperation is ongoing. There was not any hiatus which would need to restart because of a particular event," Shafqat said.

He, however, would not provide specific details and the nature of intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the US to track down Daesh top figure.

On simmering tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spokesperson said Islamabad desired "good neighbourly relations with Afghanistan" since the two countries connected by layers of complementarities.

"However, the terrorism still remains the core issue, which is bedeviling prospects of better phase of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is demonstrated and proven that the enabling environment in Afghanistan for terrorists primarily Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, who enjoy sanctuaries there, is helping them carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan. This is a constant issue which we have been raising with the Afghan authorities in order to be addressed," he said.

The spokesperson blamed the Afghan side for the closure of key border crossing between the two countries.

"We have recently seen media reports which falsely claim that the Torkham border crossing remains closed due to unilateral actions by Pakistan. Let me dispel this impression by giving you facts on the matter as they stand. For the past couple of days, the Afghan side has carried out an illegal and unilateral construction activity within the Pakistani territory at two points along the Pakistan border."

"Despite these provocations Pakistan has shown restrained and requested border flag meetings to resolve the matter peacefully which were eventually held. However, it's unfortunate that, alongside its illegal construction action, the Afghan side also resorted to indiscriminate fire at Torkham border terminal and our military post," he told reporters.

He said the issue remained unresolved. He said Pakistan strongly condemned these repeated provocations and actions against Torkham border terminal, which was part of integrated transit trade management system, established to promote bilateral and transit trade.

"Afghan actions resulting in forced closure of the border crossing at a time of economic hardship in Afghanistan is hardly sensible and will only aggravate the situation. We therefore call upon the interim Afghan authorities to shun violence and resolve matters through peaceful means, which according to UN Charter and international law, is the most suitable method for resolving any dispute between two neighboring countries."

The spokesperson strongly rebutted the Afghan Taliban government allegations that Pakistan was using Daesh as a proxy. "First of all, about your question regarding training camps of ISKP in Pakistan, we categorically reject these completely unfounded allegations. They are nothing but sad attempt to deflect the reality of providing sanctuaries to the terrorist elements in Afghanistan, which are acting against Pakistan."

The spokesperson, rejecting the Indian External Affairs Minister's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir, said that no electoral exercise, pursuant to the Indian Constitution, or the economic activity down the barrel of a gun could substitute Kashmiris' self-determination right and address their grievances.

"Any electoral exercise, pursuant to Indian Constitution, cannot serve as a substitute to grant of right to self-determination. Similarly, the decades-old grievances of the Kashmiri people cannot be meaningfully addressed through economic activity down the barrel of a gun," Khan said.

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, referring to AJK, said the Kashmir dispute would be solved after the "return of the stolen part of Kashmir which is under illegal Pakistani occupation".

Speaking during a session at the Chatham House think-tank in London on Wednesday, Jaishankar had said: "I think the path we are waiting for is the return of the stolen part of Kashmir, which is under illegal Pakistani occupation. When that's done, I assure you, Kashmir [issue is] solved."

The comments came in response to a query by a journalist - who said India was occupying Kashmir illegally - about the possibility of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking US President Donald Trump's involvement to solve the dispute.

"I think we have done a good job solving most of [the problem]," Jaishankar said, insisting that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the polls in the region in October 2024 were part of that.

He added that "restoring growth, economic activity and social justice" was another step towards purported efforts to solve the Kashmir issue.

He said that the Indian EAM's remarks misrepresented the ground realities and contravened the international law as Jammu and Kashmir was an internationally-recognized disputed territory. As per the UN Security Council resolutions, the final status of the dispute was to be determined through a free and impartial plebiscite under the UN auspices.

"India's prevarication cannot change this reality," he remarked and said that instead of making baseless claims, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir from its 77-year occupation.

"It must realise that a peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people, is imperative for a lasting peace in South Asia."

Regarding Pakistan's support to arrest and handing over of ISKP top-tier terrorist Sharifullah to the United States, the spokesperson said that the intelligence cooperation between Pakistan and the US was longstanding.

"Pakistan's law enforcement agencies' efforts against terrorism including ISKP have resulted into significant successes. Pursuant to the UN Security Council's resolutions 1267 and 1373, Pakistan collaborated with the US and handed over Sharifullah. These operations manifested Pakistan's policy of zero tolerance against terrorism," he remarked.