Islamabad, Sept 16(ANI): Pakistan will ask Afghanistan to check cross-border intrusions by the Taliban, allegedly based in Kunar and Nuristan provinces, when top diplomatic officials from both sides open a fresh round of strategic talks today, a Pakistani newspaper has said.
The meeting is taking place at a time when anger is mounting in Islamabad against Kabul's 'inability or unwillingness' to control Afghanistan-based Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) groups from carrying out attacks on Pakistani border check posts, The Express Tribune reports.
Incidentally, the United States has accused Islamabad of showing similar reluctance to control the Pakistan-based Haqqani network and its alleged attacks on international troops in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Islamabad reacted sharply to fresh US allegations that it was reluctant to go after the Haqqani network, warning that such claims could undermine anti-terror cooperation between the two countries.
"We have seen the remarks attributed to the US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta carried by the media. These remarks are not in line with the cooperation the two countries have in counter terrorism," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said during a regular press briefing.
"Terrorism and militancy are complex issues. These require close cooperation among all concerned. Pakistan and the US have cooperated in countering terrorism. Pakistan's cooperation is premised on respect for Pakistan's sovereignty and entails joint actions," she added.
In an apparent attempt to deflect US pressure, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan has raised the issue of "safe havens" and "sanctuaries" on the other side of the Af-Pak border "from where militants have launched attacks against our border posts and villages, killing many innocent civilians and destroying schools and homes."
"There is need to clearly address the issue in a cooperative mode and work for de-escalation in violence as violence is no solution to any problem. We are prepared to continuing cooperation in countering terrorism," she added. (ANI)
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