Pakistan rejects Afghan accusations over Taliban war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday "categorically rejected" remarks from the Afghan army chief alleging that it could end the 12-year conflict in Afghanistan within weeks if it was really committed to peace.

"The allegations that Pakistan 'controls' the Taliban and has 'unleashed' them on Afghanistan have no basis. We reject them categorically," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

In an interview to the BBC, Afghan Army Chief, General Sher Mohammad Karimi said “US has not started drone attacks on their own,” arguing that Islamabad had “given the lists” of militants it wants taken out.

“The drones are used against those Taliban who are part of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The drones are never used against Haqqani or Afghan Taliban,” he said, in reference to one of the most feared Afghan insurgent groups.

“That’s why that’s one of the issues when I’m saying that the peace to Afghanistan can come if us and Pakistan both will desire to have peace. Peace is in the hands of the US and Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

The army chief further said Pakistan could end the Afghan war “in weeks” if it were serious about peace.