ISLAMABAD: The attack on the Balochistan Constabulary personnel in Quetta on Tuesday had been masterminded by terrorists based in Afghanistan.

“The terrorist attack had been traced back to Afghanistan,” Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Bilal Akbar told Islamabad-based foreign envoys on Wednesday during a briefing at the Foreign Office on Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations and Indian hostilities.

The briefing was held against the backdrop of renewed US allegations that Pakistan is not doing enough to get rid of the terrorist sanctuaries on its soil.

The diplomatic corps was briefed by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, who was assisted by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, Lt Gen Bilal Akbar, Director General of Military Operations Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza and Director General of Military Intelligence Maj Gen Asim Munir.

RAW-NDS nexus working to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability

Five security personnel and two civilians lost their lives when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a Balochistan Constabulary truck in Quetta on Tuesday.

Pakistan often pins blame of attacks on terrorists operating from Afghanistan. Kabul has on most of the occasions ignored Islamabad’s complaints. Trust deficit between the two countries has been preventing cooperation on fighting terrorism.

The diplomats were told that a RAW-NDS nexus was “verifiably working to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability”. They were also briefed on the terrorist threat emanating from the safe havens and sanctuaries in Afghanistan, which is resulting in loss of human lives and damage to infrastructure in Pakistan.

The envoys were provided details about the success of Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad operations which had “eliminated terrorist presence” in the country.

They were informed that India’s belligerence towards Pakistan was the ‘new normal’ in bilateral ties and warned that the situation would hurt regional stability.

“Details were also provided on how Indian belligerence and unhelpful posturing is distracting Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and how an active RAW/NDS nexus is verifiably working to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability,” an FO statement said.

Meeting

National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua met British Ambassador to Afghanistan Sir Nicholas Kay, along with British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew.

Both sides agreed on the need for a Pak-Afghan cooperative framework and that the two countries should resume engagements at all levels, including government, diplomatic, military, intelligence and more so people-to-people.

Mr Janjua maintained that the major role in restoring peace in Afghanistan had to be played by the sitting government in Kabul.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2018