ISLAMABAD, March 1: Hitting back at persistent allegations of infiltration into Afghanistan from Pakistan, Islamabad on Wednesday declared that incursions were also taking place from Afghanistan into Pakistan and advised Kabul to do its bit to end the menace.

When Dawn sought Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam’s comments on US President George Bush’s statement in Kabul on Wednesday that during his visit to Pakistan he would raise the Afghan government’s concern about the cross-border infiltration, she said the government had seen that statement. “The incursions are also taking place from the Afghanistan into Pakistan,” she added.

Highlighting Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism, she stated: “Pakistan’s role is well-known and the world leaders, including President Bush, have repeatedly acknowledged and expressed appreciation of that.”

The spokesperson said that Pakistan had deployed more than 80,000 troops on its western borders. “They (troops) interdict and stop any incursion,” she maintained.

“This is a common problem and it cannot be resolved by making baseless allegations. Afghanistan should also play its part,” she emphasised.

The spokesperson said that the fight against terrorism would be one of the subjects that would be discussed when President Bush visited Pakistan. Earlier, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said at a press conference: “When President Bush comes here he will hear a lot of things from us also on the Afghan-Pakistan issue.”—Q.A