Pakistan

Islamabad to ask Kabul to end anti-Pakistan propaganda

Source says Sartaj Aziz will deliver two crucial messages to Afghan leadership during his visit to Kabul on Friday

Kamran Yousaf September 03, 2015

Sartaj Aziz addresses a press conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad will urge Kabul to immediately stop anti-Pakistan 'propaganda' at an official level in an effort to put the fragile relations between the two neighbours back on track, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The crucial message will be delivered to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani by Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Friday, a senior Foreign Office official said.

The official, who wished not me named, confirmed Aziz will meet the Afghan president as well as the Afghan foreign minister on the sidelines of the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul on Friday.

Read: Islamabad to push for a restart of peace talks

Aziz will be carrying two crucial messages for the Afghan leadership, the official said, which include immediate end to the anti-Pakistan propaganda and resumption of peace talks with Afghan Taliban.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated in recent weeks after Kabul publically accused Pakistan's security establishment for orchestrating the recent terrorist attacks in the war-torn country.

Afghanistan has seen sudden spike in violent attacks since Mullah Akhtar Mansoor became Taliban chief following the death of his predecessor Mullah Omar.

Read: Organisers of terrorist attacks still exist in Pakistan: Afghan president

Islamabad has dismissed Afghan allegations and insisted such diatribe has created trust deficit between the two countries.

The official said the anti-Pakistan campaign had put the security of the country's diplomatic staff stationed in Kabul at stake. He added that due to increased security threats Pakistani diplomatic staff was confined to the embassy.

Read: Threats confine Pakistani diplomats to Kabul embassy compound

A statement issued by the Foreign Office also confirmed Aziz is traveling to Kabul on Friday, where he will meet the Afghan leadership to discuss bilateral issues.

COMMENTS (23)

Sher Shah Suri | 8 years ago | Reply @Syed Ahmed What do you expect from someone Bought up on false history ! You probably Still believe 1-partition from India did not happen(same blood)! 2 You Still have Bangladesh ( E-Pakistan)! Your mighty Army has not lost every War ! No need to reply as I already know your answer!

Syed Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply @Latika: seems you have not been thrashed in your homeland eough...you are not the rulers, Pakistanis are the children and decendants of rulers who invaded India, but since you are ignorant of history, i dont expect you to know that. Mongols decimated Afghans, Alexander made them his servants, British defeated Afghans twice and placed thier own King of choice and drew the Durand line and you could do nothing, Ranjit Singh defeated you soundly, this is just a myth of Afghan invincibility, in fact Afghan have been broken and defeated by every nation around them, including Turks, Persians and recently Russians and Americans...thanks to Pakistan you can still write on the internet, so dont forget your daddy. Grow up first bacchay

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Atheist_Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Can't we just finish the Talibans? Why does the government need to even peace-talk with the animals?

Kabuli | 8 years ago | Reply Really? With the existence if Haqani and other terrorist organization in Pakistan I dare Pakistan to put forward their request where delegations from over 70 countries and international organizations are present, unless they want to be laughed at. I don't think Pakistan would make fool of themselves by raising this matter there. I look forward to seeing how this "urging Afghan..." will happen..

Latika | 8 years ago | Reply If Pakistan is not careful, the Afghans may end up being their rulers again.

Sun Tzu | 8 years ago | Reply "Publically" or "Publicly" , ET? Too much Panjabi accented editors I think!! LOL!

Bilal | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has every right to be selective in which terrorists to eliminate and which to hold off onto. Every Pakistani knows Aghanistan is breeding ground for most of the attacks that happen in Pakistan, funded by India. Now is that not reason enough for Pakistan to be selective in its approach?

Tore | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan should bring its relationship with Afghanistan to a minimum if Afghans dont stop anti Pakistan propoganda on state level. False allegations on Pakistan. Pakistan should otherwise : Send all afghans out of Pakistan permanently. Tell Afghanistan about all criminal activities of Afghans in Pakistan. Call back its embassy staff from Afghanistan which is now hostage in its embassy, and cant move freely in Afghans streets as its fear that they can be attaced by anti Pakistan afghan gangs. Bring business and transport to and from Afghanistan to a minimum and all cultural, sport and other political contact to minimum. List item

Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply Good policy, that is our hero General Raheel Sharif policy, cause our hero General knows that is Indian policy which Afghan following

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply Within the last year Aziz is on record for saying that Pakistan has no reason to attack the Haqqani since the Haqqani aren't attacking Pakistan. When Afghanistan says essentially the same thing it's called "propaganda"?

Jalal | 8 years ago | Reply Punjabis are currently attacking everyone, within and outside Punjabistan.

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply Curious that Pakistan wants Afghanistan to stop "Baseless" propaganda against Pakistan (After more than a dozen years of Pakistan's Good Taliban causing such misery), BUT Pakistan has no problem pushing "Baseless" Propaganda against India/RAW with no evidence of any terrorist support!!!!

wiserneighbour | 8 years ago | Reply All these publicity stunt should be abandoned by Pakistan. Your selective approach to haqqanis and mullah Omar stooges cost afghans countless lives.They are right in blaming you when you openly support these elements.This dubious distinction of supporting strategic assets is damaging Pakistan's international image.Except authoritarian regime like China,nobody will support you even if your grievances are genuine.You are becoming an international migraine.

Nadeem Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply Afghani culture raises their children to hate one another and others, you cannot change them, they are suffering from a severe jealousy of Pakistan...reasons unknown. Have nothing to do with them...for Gods sake LISTEN...!!!

buba | 8 years ago | Reply

immediate end to the anti-Pakistan propaganda and resumption of peace talks with Afghan Taliban

If that's the agenda then Afghanistan should cancel the meeting - publicity stunt by Pakistan - waste of time.

someone | 8 years ago | Reply I think Pakistanis should not mess with Afghans. They have ruled the current land of Pakistan for hundreds of years, and if provoked, would do it again. This time, it won't be any Abdali or Ghaznavi but some Mullah.

Jalal | 8 years ago | Reply There is anti-Afghanistan propaganda all the time on Pakistani media. Why is Pakistan trying the bully Afghanistan into submission? Pakistan must not treat Afghanistan as its occupied territory.

abc | 8 years ago | Reply Guys just tell them shut up no need to ask.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply According to the report, Islamabad will urge Kabul at the official level to immediately stop anti-Pakistan ‘propaganda’ in an effort to put the fragile relations between the two neighbours back on track. Also, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will deliver the crucial message to the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani during a meeting with him on the sidelines of the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Kabul on Friday. In contrast to the former Afghan president Hamid Karzai, who was constantly lambasting Pakistan for interfering in Afghan affairs, Ashraf Ghani started on a positive note and for quite a while, the relations between the two neighbours stayed warm. Among many measures indicting an improvement in relations was the matter of Afghan army personnel coming to Pakistan for training instead of going to India which used to be the practice in the past. However, despite starting his tenure on a positive note and a brief spell of warm relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, if President Ashraf Ghani is feeling compelled to adopt the past pattern of blaming Pakistan, maybe he has valid reasons for doing so. And if that is so, the relations between the two countries will not improve simply by ‘officially asking’ Afghanistan to ‘stop anti-Pakistan propaganda’, but will require a serious and sincere attempt on our part to remove Afghan grievances. And the fact that the aerial bombing and ground operations in the tribal areas had to be resumed so soon after declaring the area cleared of militants may mean that perhaps things are not quite under control there, and the Afghans may have a point. Karachi

Truth hurts | 8 years ago | Reply Its not propaganda if its true. You have no right to request the curbing of freedoms Afghans enjoy to express themselves and be aware of those who wish to do them harm.

Stewart J | 8 years ago | Reply Speaking the truth should not be misconstrued as propaganda.

Babloo | 8 years ago | Reply India and Afghanistan should jointly mount international campaign to isolate Pakistan over Pakistan's support to terrorist groups against Indiia and Afghanistan. That's what state sponsorer of terrorism means.

Syed | 8 years ago | Reply These Afghan traders of life don't know the voice of talks but of money only. Offer them money and they will come hanging their tail behind you. India is funding them for all the Anti-Pakistan Agenda Promotion and who does not know that.

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