Pakistan does not ‘cooperate in anti-terrorism activities’, claims Abdullah Abdullah

Claims terrorists armed, financed in Pakistan; Taliban have emerged stronger as no action was taken against them

ISLAMABAD: A day after President Ashraf Ghani claimed the organisers of terrorist attacks and terrorist centres still exist in Pakistan, Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Dr Abdullah Abdullah has claimed Pakistan does not cooperate in anti-terrorism campaign with Kabul.

“In regards to Pakistan… in spite of our people’s scepticism, we took bold steps to improve relations, but unfortunately, Pakistan did not cooperate in anti-terrorism activities over the past 10 months as we expected,” Dr Abdullah said at a council meeting of ministers on Tuesday.

“They (Pakistan) issued good statements, but those who commit crimes against our people are financed and armed there,” Abdullah’s office quoted him as saying. “They kept Mullah Omar’s death a secret for two years, and then openly held new leadership meetings in order to restore their identity under the leadership of a new criminal, to gain legitimacy and continue their carnage.”

Despite the allegations, Pakistan had assured on Tuesday it considered Afghanistan’s enemies its own, extending full cooperation to the country in combating terrorism.

“Terrorism is our common enemy and requires cooperative approach to combat this menace,” Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said.

Read: ‘Organisers of terrorist attacks still exist in Pakistan’

“We were told Afghanistan’s enemy is Pakistan’s enemy. What kind of enemy of Pakistan is this? They kill people here and move around freely there?,” Dr Abdullah questioned in the statement, which was emailed to The Express Tribune, and its excerpts were also released to local media.

Referring to the recent wave of attacks in Kabul and parts of Afghanistan, which killed nearly 70 people over the past few days, the Afghan leader said, “We know who is behind these atrocities, those who plan such attacks are outside the country. Those who take responsibility for these crimes are in Pakistan.”

He admitted the Taliban emerged stronger over the past 10 months as no action had been taken against them.

“Not only has no change been detected in the military machinery of the Taliban over the last 10 months, but it has in fact become stronger… because they don’t feel any pressure, and they are armed and financed, and resort to unfettered mobility.”

Read: 51 dead, hundreds wounded in lethal wave of Kabul bombings

As terrorists take responsibility after broad daylight attacks on Afghan soil, no limitations have been imposed on their activities and they continue their shameless attacks, Dr Abdullah said, calling for a review of peace talks with the Taliban following the attacks in Kabul.

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appreciated the Ghani administration’s approach towards Pakistan during the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan.

Ghani had telephoned Nawaz to discuss possible resumption of peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban.

Nawaz had also expressed sorrow over recent blasts in Afghanistan, and conveyed his condolences over the loss of lives.