ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office sought on Tuesday to allay Kabul’s concerns over Punjabi Taliban’s statement about stepping up their activities in Afghanistan with the assurance that no-one would be allowed to hurt ties with neighbours.

At the same time, it reminded Afghan authorities of the need to take complimentary counter-terrorism measures on its side of the border to ensure viable peace.

“Pakistan remains committed to disallowing its territory to be used against any country. We will not allow anyone to breach laws in this regard or to undermine our goal of fostering friendly and cooperative relations with neighbouring countries,” said a FO statement.

It was issued in response to concerns expressed by the Afghan foreign ministry and National Security Council over the Punjabi Taliban’s announcement. The Afghan institutions had also accused Pakistani intelligence agencies of backing militant groups involved in terrorism in their country.

“Afghanistan has been subject to terrorist attacks for many years, and there is no doubt that Pakistani intelligence networks are training, mobilising and funding these terrorist groups. A large number of Pakistani terrorists have been killed and arrested in different parts of the country,” the Afghan ministry had alleged.

Afghan allegations about involvement of Pakistani spy outfits in terrorism are not new. But this time the accusations have been repeated in response to a statement made by Punjabi Taliban leader Asmatullah Moavia about ending violent activities inside Pakistan, but expanding strikes in Afghanistan.

Kabul had said Moavia’s statement was a manifestation of “a clear and dangerous interference continued by Pakistani intelligence groups in the domestic affairs of Afghanistan.”

The Foreign Office responded by saying it was dismayed at the Afghan allegations.

“Repeated attempts by the Afghan side to implicate Pakistan’s intelligence institutions in terrorist activities are unfounded and counter-productive,” it said.

“The threat of terrorism can be best addressed through mutual cooperation,” it added.

“Pakistan’s firm resolve to combat this menace, without any distinction or discrimination, is concretely manifested in the ongoing military operation Zarb-i-Azb,” it said and called upon the Afghanistan government to undertake “complementary actions”.

The renewed call for corresponding action by Afghan forces on the other side of Durand Line and eliminating the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan sanctuaries came on the day TTP fighters from their bases in Afghanistan launched an attack on Dandi Kuch border checkpost in North Waziristan, killing three soldiers of the Frontier Corps.

The FO said elimination of TTP sanctuaries on Afghan soil and handing over TTP terrorists currently in Afghanistan could be the first important step to counter-terrorism cooperation.

“Such a cooperative Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship, we are convinced, is the best guarantee for durable peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” it said and expressed the hope for a positive response from Kabul.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2014