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Pakistan expresses concern over TTP safe havens in Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday expressed concern over continued presence of safe havens of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kunar and Nooristan areas of Afghanistan.
Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary in his weekly briefing here at Foreign Office said these elements are carrying out
undesirable activities against Pakistan.
The spokesman said Pakistan has taken up the matter many a times with Afghanistan at all levels and hoped that these safe havens of TTP would be eliminated.
He said presence of safe havens is a serious matter but Pakistan would continue to remain in cooperative mode with Afghanistan as this is best way to defeat the evil forces.
When his attention was drawn towards accusatory statements of Afghan President and Foreign Minister, the spokesman said both sides
have concerns and Pakistan believed that the best way to remove concerns and misunderstandings is to keep all channels of
communication open.
The spokesman said Pakistan is following a policy of goodwill towards Afghanistan and wanted its reflection in Afghan policy as well.
Referring to Afghan decision not to send military delegation for a training course in Quetta, he said training activities are meant to build trust and confidence between the two countries.
"We should not miss this opportunity as it promoted bilateral relations and build trust," he added.
As for the excuse presented by Afghanistan for not sending delegation for training, the spokesman said, "There was some intrusion from Afghan side and our troops only responded and that too in a disciplined and responsible manner.There was no artillery shelling as alleged by the Afghan side."
The spokesman emphasized that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to
work together in harmony to promote peace not only in Afghanistan
but also in the whole region.
Replying a question, the spokesman said so far only European
Union has approached for sending election observers to Pakistan.
He said all foreign observers will have to sign on the code of
conduct already finalised and issued by the Election Commission in
this regard.
The spokesman said Ministry of Interior will give advisory and guidance on security aspects to the foreign observers and they had
to inform about their programmes to the Ministry of Interior.
APP
Courtesy www.geo.tv