Pakistan says occupation of Afghan territory by any group 'unacceptable'

Foriegn secretary says Pakistan will not respond to Afghan leader's accusations against Pakistan

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said on Wednesday the capture of the Afghan city of Kunduz is ‘unacceptable.’

"Afghanistan is being run by a democratically elected and legitimate government and occupation of its territory by any group is unacceptable," Chaudhry said.

Responding to a question regarding Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah’s comments about Pakistan while addressing the UN General Assembly, the foreign secretary urged “blame game” should be avoided.

Read: At UN, Afghan leader points accusatory finger at Pakistan

"Pakistan believes that the solution to the Afghan issue lies in further cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan," he.

"We should avoid blame game and find ways and means to find a lasting solution between the two countries," Chaudhry added.

Chaudhry said Pakistan stands for Afghan reconciliation and a peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues. "The solution does not lie in blame game, rather it lies in cooperation.”

Further, the foreign secretary said Pakistan will not respond to Abdullah's statement and continue to exercise restraint.

Read: Ghani says Pak-Afghan ties not brotherly

Reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to eliminate terrorism, Chaudhry said, “Pakistan would not allow use of its territory for any activity against any country.”

“Pakistan delegation is in contact with Afghan officials and there is no downwards trend in Pak-Afghan ties,” he added.

Chaudhry also said United States and China desire the reconciliation process to bear fruit, and contacts with Afghanistan are continuing without any break.

Read: Taliban chief asks Kabul to accept ‘defeat’ in Kunduz

Afghanistan’s chief executive called on Pakistan to keep its promise to crack down on Islamic extremists blamed for carrying out cross-border attacks and destabilising the impoverished country.

Abdullah Abdullah’s address Monday night to the UN General Assembly came hours after a stunning assault by the Taliban captured the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz in a multi-pronged attack involving hundreds of fighters.

Abdullah said some of the attackers had come from abroad, adding, “We call on Pakistan to do what its leadership promised to us a few months ago when they agreed to crack down on known terror outfits.”