Pakistan rejects Afghan allegations,warns against aggression

PM chairs National Security Committee meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected the allegations from Afghanistan pertaining to Pakistan's involvement in the June 1 Kabul attack that resulted in the killing of 90 people and made it clear that any aggression would be responded effectively. 

A special meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) of the Cabinet, which regional security expressed Pakistan’s resolve to deal with terrorism by utilising all resources. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting at the Prime Minister House. 

Highly placed sources said the meeting took special notice of Afghanistan's clearly-worded criticism over Pakistan's alleged involvement in the attack. Pakistan "strongly rejected" the baseless allegations levelled by Afghanistan while condemning the Kabul bombing and resolving to remain steadfast and resolute in support of the Afghan people. It was highlighted that Pakistan is the only country in the region which has achieved clear and measurable success against terrorism despite having limited resources and having borne considerable human and economic losses. 

The statement issued after the meeting maintained that Pakistan has not only remained committed to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, but also worked with all regional and global initiatives to that end. At the same time, the participants of the meeting held that Pakistan has shown exceptional restraint even when Afghan territory was used for terrorist acts in Pakistan, which resulted in extreme human losses. In addition, the statement said Pakistan is fully cognisant of institutional collaboration by elements hostile to Pakistan and would defend itself resolutely against manifest and future threats. The participants also discussed law and order situation informally and expressed satisfaction over the successes of the law enforcement agencies in this regard. The ongoing operation Raddul Fasad was also discussed by the NSC. According to official release, the prime minister chaired a special meeting of the NSC to review issues of national and regional security. The forum strongly condemned the recent incident of terrorism in Kabul and resolved to remain steadfast and resolute in support of Afghan people. The participants expressed concern on the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and strongly rejected the baseless allegations on Pakistan in that context. It was highlighted that Pakistan was the only country in the Afghan equation which has achieved clear and measurable success against terrorism despite limited capacity and huge human and economic costs. It said Pakistan has not only remained committed to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan but also worked with all regional and global initiatives to that end. 

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif, Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and senior civil and military officials.