Afghanistan blames Pakistan for Kabul varsity attack

RAWALPINDI: The Afghan presidential office said on Thursday that the attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul which claimed 16 lives was “orchestrated” from Pakistan, according to a foreign news agency.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani telephoned Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, says an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.During the conversation, the army chief strongly condemned the terrorists’ attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul and expressed his sympathies with the bereaved families.

The COAS said that Pakistani soil would not be allowed to be used for any type of terrorism in Afghanistan. The Afghan authorities shared three mobile telephone numbers allegedly used during the university attack as these numbers were, according to them, in contact with the attackers.

It may be mentioned here that based on these three Afghan cell numbers provided by the Afghan authorities, the Pakistan Army carried out a combing operation in the suspected area closer to the Pak-Afghan border to verify the presence of miscreants.

“Our evaluation of the evidence provided and outcome of combing operation so far hasoperated by Afghan company whose spill over signal affects some areas along Pak-Afghan border. Outcome of the operation so far has been shared with afghan authorities. Further technical evaluation of the cell numbers (all Afghan) is being carried out,” ISPR press release said.

COAS assured Afghan President of all out cooperation on availability of further information from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Ambassador Richard Olson, Special Representative in Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP) and General John Nicholson, Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan along with their delegation called on Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

During the meeting, regional security issues and matters of mutual interests including border management mechanism along Pak-Afghan border were discussed. The visiting dignitaries appreciated the resolve and continuing efforts towards fighting terrorism and regional stability.