By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign minister warned Tuesday that his country could act in “self-defence” against militants hiding in Afghanistan if Kabul failed to crack down on them, amid a surge of cross-border attacks.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan expected the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to honour its pledge under the Doha agreement with the United States to not allow its territory to be used for terrorist activities against any country.
He said Pakistan had seen a “quantitative increase” in terror attacks since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, and blamed the weapons left behind by US and NATO forces for falling into the hands of militants.
“Regarding Pakistan going there (Afghanistan) and taking action against these terrorists, we do not want to be forced to do this, but according to international law, we have the right to self-defence,” Bhutto Zardari told reporters at the foreign ministry.
“If we are repeatedly attacked like this, and there is no appropriate response, we will be forced to do this. But I don’t think it should be amongst the first options for us.”
He said Pakistan’s preference was for the Taliban regime to act against the Pakistani Taliban – Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups that were targeting Pakistan.
“Our stance is clear. We want the officials there, the interim government, to act against them.”
He added that Pakistan was ready to assist Afghanistan in combating terrorism, as it had the capacity and experience to deal with such threats.
“The writ of the state will be established at all costs, and the government will not take steps to appease militant or terrorist outfits.”
The foreign minister said he had suggested to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to convene a meeting of top civilian and military officials to address the issue of terrorism and crime in the country.
Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch attacks on its soil, especially in the restive border regions. The country shares a 2,600-kilometre (1,600-mile) border with Afghanistan.
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