ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday that Pakistan had repeatedly urged the interim Afghanistan government to immediately rein in terrorist organisations operating from its soil, but these groups continue to launch attacks in Pakistan.
Accompanied by elder brother Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz arrived in London from a two-day ‘successful’ visit to Belarus, the Prime Minister’s Office said. Shehbaz was scheduled to return to the country on Sunday night, while Nawaz planned to stay in the British capital for over two weeks.
Speaking to journalists, Shehbaz said that militant outfits such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) were still active in Afghanistan and responsible for attacks that have claimed the lives of innocent Pakistanis.
“We have conveyed multiple times to the Afghan interim government that, under the Doha Accord, they must not allow the use of Afghan soil for terrorism,” he said. “These terrorists have martyred our people, and this must stop.”
He said that the sacrifices of Pakistan’s people, armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies would not go in vain. “Afghanistan is our brotherly neighbouring country. We must coexist peacefully, as good neighbours – not adversaries,” Shehbaz added.
Last month, Pakistan decided to give diplomacy and dialogue one more chance to resolve issues including the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan with the interim Taliban government.
In March, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, visited Kabul and met with Afghan authorities to discuss bilateral cooperation Later Ambassador Sadiq gave his recommendations on how to pursue relationships with Afghanistan. He provided a positive assessment of his trip to Kabul in a meeting with the foreign minister.
Pakistan and Afghanistan relations have remained strained for months primarily over the presence of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the neighbouring country.
Islamabad has linked the spike in terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces with terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Belarus visit
During his Belarus trip, the prime minister visited a factory manufacturing mining machinery, noting Pakistan’s untapped mineral wealth. He announced plans to enhance cooperation in this sector and to send 150,000 skilled Pakistani workers to Belarus “on merit”.
Development goals
Touching on his development agenda, Shehbaz said his well-known “Punjab Speed” had evolved into “Super Pakistan Speed”. He vowed to steer Pakistan toward prosperity through hard work and unity.
“Our goal is a prosperous and forward-moving Pakistan,” the PM said.
