Afghanistan for not reciprocating friendly gestures, Defence Minister

 5-6 million Afghans sought asylum in Pakistan in last 4-5 decades. Asif

ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif lashes out at Afghanistan for giving its soil to terrorists’ outfits.

In his strong-worded tweet on Saturday, the defence minister said Afghanistan was neglecting its duties as a neighbouring and brotherly country while also disregarding the Doha agreement.

Asif said four to five million Afghan refugees had been living here in Pakistan with all their rights intact for the last 40 to 50 years. “On the other hand, the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis find safe heavens in Afghanistan,” he said.

He further wrote that the situation could not continue any longer and expressed his resolve to protect the country.

“Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land and citizens, Insha Allah.”

The defence minister’s remarks came a day after the Pakistan Army expressed serious concerns about safe havens and liberty of action available to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Friday visited Quetta Garrison, where he was briefed on the recent terrorist attack in Zhob in which nine soldiers embraced martyrdom.

Pakistan has witnessed an increase in terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the termination of the ceasefire between the government and the banned TTP in November last year.

Following his visit, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement it is expected that the interim Afghan government would not allow the use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in the Doha agreement

Earlier, the Foreign Office also urged the Afghan authorities to ensure that their land isn’t used against Pakistan.