ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Reacting to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s parliamentary address in which he urged Pakistan to treat good and bad Taliban alike, the Foreign Office spokesman has said that Pakistan condemns all forms and manifestation of terrorism and it is committed in the fight against this menace.
In a statement, spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that Pakistan doesn’t differentiate between terrorist groups. Pakistan itself is the biggest victim of terrorism in which thousands of our security personnel have sacrificed their lives, he went on to say.
Commenting on Ashraf Ghani’s accusation about unfulfilled Pakistani promises with the Quadrilateral Coordination Group on Afghan peace talks, he said that Pakistan is making serious efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan hosted the first round of direct talks between Afghan government and Taliban. He, however, added that Pakistan alone is not responsible for bringing the Taliban back to the table.
He said the Quadrilateral Coordination Group was constituted to achieve the objective of peace and stability in Afghanistan. The spokesman said peace in the neighbouring country is in the interest of Pakistan.
On Monday, addressing in Afghan Parliament after last week’s deadly bombing in Kabul which claimed 24 lives and injured over 400 people, President Ashraf Ghani had said that he does not expect Pakistan to bring Taliban to table for peace talks now.
Instead, he urged Islamabad to crush Taliban militants, alleging that Taliban fighters are using Pakistani soil to plan and execute terrorist attack in Afghanistan. Taliban insurgents will suffer in battlefield and eventually request for peace talks, he went on to say.
On the occasion he also blamed Pakistan for differentiating between good and bad Taliban, urging Pakistan to give up this attitude.
He threatened if Pakistan failed to fulfill its promises to crush Taliban as decided in quadrilateral meeting, Afghanistan will move US Security Council over this issue.
Ashraf Ghani also presented religious justifications from Quran to defend the fight against Taliban and discourage rebellion against his government. He also announced that his government will execute all detained militants.
