THE bomb blast at a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan’s Samangan has widely been condemned by not just President Hamid Karzai but also by neighbouring countries.

The blast took place at a time when people had gathered to celebrate the wedding of the daughter of a member of the Afghan parliament. Besides the MP, a number of other people were killed and wounded.

In Pakistan, too, terrorists have continued their activities. A recent attack was on a police station in Bannu, as a result of which a policeman was martyred, two terrorists were killed and several personnel were injured….

These incidents are taking place at a time when the US-led NATO forces have announced their withdrawal from the war-torn country and the handing over of security to Afghan forces. Pakistan, meanwhile, has agreed to re-open the routes for the supply of goods for the NATO forces in Afghanistan.

It is a matter of concern for both Pakistan and Afghanistan that terrorists have been targeting law-enforcement agencies, sensitive government installations and state functionaries. It is yet to be known why the terrorists are attacking innocent people, but it is clear that both countries are facing external threats and some foreign elements are active in the disruption of peace in these states….

The bomb blasts, target killings and acts of sabotage have for many years now made the lives of the people in both countries extremely miserable. Pakistanis have suffered greatly due to blasts at public places where innocent people are killed or injured and infrastructure is destroyed. There is need to find a durable solution to all these issues.

The lawlessness in Afghanistan has a direct impact on the lives of the people in Pakistan. Millions of Afghanis are living here and move freely between the countries. Of them, there are many who enter Pakistan without any kind of registration, and in violation of the rules and regulations. According to the law-enforcement agencies, most such people are often found to be involved in crimes of a heinous nature. These people do not care about the interests of Pakistan or Afghanistan.

It is need of the hour for both countries to check the movement of such people, so that the menace of terrorism can be controlled.—(July 18)

Selected and translated by Ali Hazrat Bacha.