Terror outfits using Afghan soil to disrupt peace in Pakistan: FO

• –Dr Fasial says Fazalullah hiding in Afghanistan
• –Says Mattis expected to visit the country in coming weeks

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office spokesperson on Thursday said terror outfits like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Daesh (Islamic State) and Jamaatul Ahrar are using Afghan soil for terrorist activities in Pakistan.

Responding to questions at the weekly news briefing, FO spokesperson Muhammad Faisal said that the Indian intelligence agency, Research Analysis Wing (RAW), has been operating in Afghanistan and has been involved in a number of terrorist activities. Afghanistan should not allow its territory to be used by India against Pakistan, he asserted.

When his attention was drawn to the recent statement of Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in which he had admitted that the TTP had a strong foothold in Afghanistan, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan had repeatedly highlighted the fact that these terror outfits were operating from neighbouring Afghanistan. “We have at multiple occasions shared intelligence with Afghanistan and the US regarding the presence of terrorists along the border with a request to take action and not let Afghan territory be used against Pakistan,” he added.

The leader of TTP Swat, Mullah Fazal Ullah, the mastermind and perpetrator of the Peshawar Army Public School was hiding in Afghanistan, he claimed.

When asked if Afghan side had shared any updates on the investigations of the killing of Nayyar Iqbal Rana with Pakistan, he said that Pakistan’s Ambassador in Afghanistan had held meetings with relevant Afghan authorities, who were still investigating the matter.

Regarding narco-trafficking, he said that the issue of opium cultivation and drug production posed a serious threat not only to the socio-economic development, security and stability of Afghanistan but the surrounding region as well. “We are especially concerned about the links between narco-trade and terrorism, as narco-trafficking is considered to be one of the major sources of terror financing”, he remarked.

Urging Afghanistan to put curbs on the trade, he said the Afghan government needed to take urgent steps for eradication of poppy cultivation, law enforcement, provision of alternative livelihoods, and public information campaigns to end the production of opium in line with International Drug Conventions.

To a question, the spokesperson said that the US Defence Secretary James Mattis was expected to visit Pakistan in the next few weeks and the diplomatic channels were working on mutually convenient dates for this visit. He said Pakistan and the US were engaged in discussing all issues, including those relating to regional peace and security.

When asked about the denial of entry to disgruntled Baloch leader Mehran Marri by Switzerland, Dr Faisal said Pakistan continues to impress upon friendly countries to deny space to individuals “posing threat to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan”.  He said Pakistan was determined to redouble its efforts in this regard, adding Switzerland had realised that Marri was a threat to their national interest and decided to ban his entry. He noted it was unfavourable for any country to allow terrorists on its soil.

Responding to another question related to Swiss government’s immigration authorities, he said initially, there was some miscommunication about visa applications of Pakistani senior officials, including a retired justice and Balochistan Assembly speaker, who were scheduled to travel to Geneva for official meetings. However, the Swiss Embassy opened its office on Saturday (November 11, 2017) and entertained the applications submitted to it.

Responding to another question, the spokesperson said that Pakistan had offered to arrange a meeting between Kulbushan Jadhav and his spouse on humanitarian grounds. He said the Indian response that the mother should also be allowed to accompany the wife to meet Kulbushan is [still] under consideration.

Dr Muhammad Faisal said that Pakistan will continue to highlight Indian atrocities and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir at the international level.

The spokesperson expressed concerns over the conviction of six members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami by War Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh.