Good will gesture: Pakistan releases 29 Afghan nationals

ISPR says they were apprehended from different areas of North Waziristan during Operation Zarb-e-Azb


Our Correspondent November 01, 2014

ISLAMABAD:


Pakistan released over two dozen Afghan nationals on Friday as a ‘good will gesture’ ahead of the newly elected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s maiden trip to the country.


As many as 29 detainees were handed over to the Afghan authorities. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement that the freed Afghan nationals were apprehended from different areas of North Waziristan during Operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ for having alleged links with militants.

“After detailed investigations, it was established that these individuals did not have any links with terrorists, but were illegal immigrants, living without valid documents,” the military’s media wing added.

An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the move was aimed at creating a conducive environment for the upcoming visit of the Afghan president.

Ghani, who has recently assumed the top post as Afghan president following months of political deadlock, is expected to travel to Islamabad this month at the invitation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Last month, the prime minister’s adviser on national security and foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, had travelled to Kabul to deliver the invitation. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense over the past few months due to growing trust-deficit between the two neighbours.

While Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of supporting the Afghan Taliban, Islamabad is upset over Kabul’s inaction over the terrorist sanctuaries established by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kunar and Nuristan provinces.

Recently, the chief military spokesperson expressed his disappointment over lack of cooperation from Afghan authorities to eliminate terrorist hideouts.

Pakistan military authorities believe that Operation Zarb-e-Azb could only be effective if concrete action is taken against the TTP and its affiliates taking refuge on other side of the Durand Line.

The two countries are expected to take up all these contentious issues during the  Afghan leader’s visit to Pakistan.

The Afghan president said that during his visit he will share a plan with the Pakistani leadership aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2014. 

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