US echoes Pakistan Army’s warning to Afghanistan over terror sanctuaries

The United States has echoed Pakistan Army’s warning to Afghanistan about terrorist sanctuaries there, urging the Taliban officials to take care of them, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.

This was said by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller during his daily news briefing in Washington on Monday in reply to a question regarding the Pakistan Army’s Corps Commanders Conference.

The question was asked from Miller to comment on Pakistan’s Corps Commanders’ Conference held on Monday in which they urged Afghanistan to take care of the terrorist sanctuaries there which are coming and doing activities in Pakistan. And this in one week is the second time that Pakistan military has openly told Afghanistan to take some action, otherwise they are going to take some action against themselves.

In reply, the State Department spokesman said “So I don’t have any comment specifically on that, but I will say we have made very clear that we believe the Taliban have the responsibility to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for launching terrorist attacks”, the same demand Pakistan military had made twice during the last week.

Earlier in the week, the Pakistan Army had expressed serious concerns about militants allegedly finding “safe havens” in neighbouring Afghanistan. They had issued a warning of an “effective response” after twelve soldiers were killed in two attacks. The army had stated it is troubled by the safe havens and freedom of action enjoyed by the TTP in Afghanistan and emphasized that such attacks are unacceptable.

Senior Pakistani politicians, including the defence minister,  had expressed concern about the Taliban’s statement on Saturday regarding the Doha Agreement.

In an interview with BBC, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid responded to the defence minister’s remarks about Afghanistan not fulfilling its obligations under the Doha deal by stating that the peace accord was not signed with Islamabad but the United States.

Earlier, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said he was deeply concerned about the “safe havens” and freedom of action that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has in Afghanistan.

Speaking to BBC, the Taliban official assured that Afghanistan was not allowing its soil to be used for attacks in Pakistan, as the ruling group considers it “a Muslim and brother country”. “There is no TTP in Afghanistan. If Pakistan has any evidence, it should share it with us. We will consider it and take action. Pakistan blames us for its own failure in maintenance of law and order situation internally,” Mujahid said.

In response to Mujahid’s statement, veteran politician and senior PPP leader Farhatullah Babar found it “disturbing”. “Does it mean the Doha agreement binds the Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all?” Babar interrogated in a tweet.

Taliban spokesperson says Taliban signed Doha agreement with US, not with Pakistan & It’s policy towards Pakistan is different. Does it mean Doha agreement binds Taliban to rein in only some militants, not all? Disturbing pic.twitter.com/JyRLhagdfJ

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) July 16, 2023