Pakistan has shared a dossier with Afghanistan and ISAF on the issue of Swat Taliban leader Mullah Fazalullah’s alleged involvement in the attack on Malala Yousafzai and two other girls, Foreign Office Spokesman Moazzam Ahmed Khan said Thursday.
Khan made this statement during his weekly briefing in Islamabad at the Foreign Office.
Earlier, Pakistan had requested Afghanistan to hand over Fazlullah, claiming that he was involved in planning major attacks in Pakistan from across the border, including the attack on peace activist Malala Yousufzai.
According to Foreign Ministry sources, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar made this demand during her meeting with Afghanistan-Pakistan special envoy Marc Grossman, who arrived in Islamabad on Saturday for talks with political and military leaders on “issues of bilateral and mutual concern.”
Afghan authorities had said that Islamabad has not shared with them any intelligence regarding the presence of fugitive Pakistani Taliban, including the notorious Mullah Fazlullah, in eastern Afghanistan. Sources added that Fazlullah has been involved in planning 15 major attacks in Pakistan, from Afghanistan, including attacks on security check posts and villages which have claimed almost 200 lives.
Fazlullah, also nicknamed “Mullah Radio” is the leader of banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM).
Known for his fiery radio broadcasts in Swat Valley, he is also sometimes referred to as chief of the Swat Taliban.
Earlier, it was reported that Fazlullah had sent a hit squad, comprising of two members, to kill 14-year-old Malala for being a proponent of girls’ education in the valley and speaking against the Taliban. The FO spokesman also clarified that the issue of Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan is a settled issue as it is the internationally recognised border between the two countries.
“The Durand Line between Pakistan and Afghanistan is the internally recognised border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is a closed and settled issue,” said Khan.
Khan’s comments follow the US State Department’s reaffirmation on Friday of the Durand Line as the internationally recognised boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan and rejection of the Afghan government’s protest over an earlier US statement on Pak-Afghan border.
The Durand Line was drawn up by the British in 1893 to delineate the boundary between what was then British India and the Kingdom of Afghanistan. After 1947, it became the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, although the Afghan government still refuses to recognise it.
Replying to a question, the foreign office spokesman expressing concern on statements from Afghanistan said that Pakistan is committed to fight terrorism and extremism and there should be no doubt in it. He said, “Pakistan does not need to clarify its position on war against terror and no need to give justification in this regard.”
Commenting on the statements coming from Afghanistan, the spokesman said, “Pakistan wants to promote its relations with all neighbouring countries including Afghanistan on the basis of mutual respect and trust.”
He said there is a need to adopt responsible attitude by Afghan leaders and instead of raising the issues through media, all the issues should be resolved through bilaterally and diplomatic channels and through negotiations and dialogue process.
On the question of drone attacks, the spokesman said Pakistan believes they are illegal, counter-productive and a violation of its sovereignty.
Commenting on the results of American Presidential elections, the spokesman said Pakistan will continue to work with who so ever will be elected next US President. Pakistan has good and broad-based relations with the US and is interested to move forward in these ties.
