Enemy using Afghan soil to launch terrorist attacks in Pakistan: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday said the enemy is taking advantage of the turmoil in Afghanistan and using its soil to orchestrate terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

In his weekly news briefing today, FO spokesman Nafees Zakaria said that terrorism is a common enemy of both Pakistan and Afghanistan and both the countries would need to work together to combat terrorism.

He said Pakistan remains committed to peace and stability in Afghanistan and emphasised the need for effective border management to stop cross-border movement of terrorists.

Nafees Zakaria said the government is taking concrete steps to deal with terrorists. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has issued instructions to deal with the terrorists with absolute resolve, which the country’s Armed Forces and other Law Enforcement Agencies’ personnel are pursuing.

To a question, the spokesman said Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism and has paid a heavy price in terms of lives and economic losses.

On the Kashmir dispute, Zakaria noted that the people in Occupied Kashmir continue to suffer atrocities at the hands of Indian occupying forces. He pointed out that the Indian troops have martyred 22 innocent Kashmiris in the first two months of 2017, which is condemnable.

“The entire Pakistani nation supports Kashmiris’ indigenous movement for self-determination and the government will continue to extend its moral, political, and diplomatic support to them till the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC Resolutions,” the spokesman stated.

The Foreign Office further said that all member countries of ECO have confirmed their participation at highest political level in the ECO Summit, to be held in Islamabad on March 1.

The main theme of the summit is connectivity for prosperity. The summit will discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation among member states, the statement added.