Summary Pakistan will demand surrender of Mullah Fazalullah and operation against Taliban hideouts.
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) Afghanistan’s high-level military and Intelligence delegation will be arriving tomorrow in Pakistan s capital, Islamabad, where matters of mutual concern will be discussed between the two counrties. According to the Foreign Office official, who was talking to journalists in Islamabad today, Pakistan will take up the matter of Taliban hideouts before the Afghan delegation that are causing troubles for Pakistan in the tribal areas, operating from Afghan soil. At the same time, the matter of Mullah Fazalullah’s handover to Pakistan will also be brought forward, Dunya News reported. It has also been reported that Pakistan will convey its displeasure over repeated allegations of Afghan officials against it.
Professional matters will be discussed between the two military representative delegations during this visit. Pakistan will also furnish its long standing demand of operation against Taliban hideouts in Afghan areas of Kunhar and Nooristan. Pakistan has persistently demanded this operation against Taliban operating from Afghan territory while Afghanistan has always denied the charges.
Pakistan will share its distress with the Afghan delegation about the repeated allegations that are made by Afghanistan about Pakistan breaching its international border. Pakistan has denied these allegations terming them completely baseless. According to the Pakistan s side of the story, Taliban had attacked a Pakistani security check post on 21st and 25th of May, 2014 and Pakistan only responded to those attacks.
Improvement in Pak-Afghan border management is also on Afghan delegation s agenda. Most of the attacks are carried out on both sides of the border because of the sporadic nature of the Durand Line and if border management improves through mutual cooperation of both the countries, the number of unwanted incidents will certainly drop, according to the experts. Intelligence sharing is another key point that will be discussed between the two sides during this visit. Mobility of Taliban is a serious issue and can only be restricted through improved border management and timely intelligence sharing.
The two sides will also discuss the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who are leaving North Waziristan Agency (NWA) for settling in Afghanistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhawa s Finance Minister and Jamat-i-Islami head, Sirajul Haq, had said yesterday that thousands of people have migrated to Afghanistan since the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. It is on Pakistan s agenda to discuss these IDPs with the Afghan delegation. Pakistan will demand a proper check on these IDPs. Pakistan feels concerned that terrorists may also flee along with the IDPs, disguising themselves as local residents. With a stronger check on the other side of the border, it will be easier for Pakistan to carry out the operation against the Taliban in the NWA effectively.
Foreign Office official ruled out any chance of hot pursuits on Afghan territory saying that Pakistan does not intend to violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any country. He also said that Pakistan did not favor anyone in Afghanistan elections and hoped to work with the newly elected government. "Pakistan is a neutral spectator in Afghan elections", said the Foreign Office (FO) official.
