News Story: Pakistan Can’t Be Held Responsibility For Peace - FM

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said Islamabad cannot take responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, India’s Economic Times reported on Thursday.

Asif said effective border management with Kabul was imperative to stop the infiltration of terrorists. 

Speaking at the Asia Society seminar in New York, Asif also said the US cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war, reported the Economic Times. 

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Pakistan’s Army Chief to Visit Kabul for Talks

General Qamar Javed Bajwa

By Sayed Sharif Amiri

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Tuesday announced that Pakistan’s chief of army staff general Qamar Javed Bajwa is expected to visit Afghanistan in the next five days where he will hold talks with Afghan officials.

According to the MoD, among the issues discussed will be that of peace talks with the Taliban. 

The Afghan government will reiterate its call to Pakistan to take action against terrorist hideouts and safe havens inside Pakistan territory, said MoD spokesman Dawlat Waziri. 

Meanwhile, prominent Pakistani politician and chairman of Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf party, Imran Khan, has said more violence, more bloodshed and more bombings in Afghanistan is not the answer.

He said dialogue was the solution. 

"I think Donald Trump's policy is deeply flawed. He neither understands the history of Pakistan nor the character of the Afghan people," Khan said in an interview with The Associated Press.

“To blame Pakistan for this failed policy and then giving credit to India for some reason which does not border Afghanistan …. If Pakistan army, government had any leverage with the Taliban then surely they (the US) should ask Pakistan to play a role in building peace and getting them to the dialogue table but not what they are proposing – more violence, more bloodshed, more bombing … I think Pakistan has done enough.”

"More fighting and bloodshed is not the answer. I said it 17 years ago and I am still saying this now," he said.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Raziq Says Pakistan Positioning Insurgents Along The Durand Line

Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq (2015)

By Anisa Shahid

Pakistan has big plans for Afghanistan, has established large insurgent training camps on both sides of the Durand Line and have stationed militants along the de facto border, Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq told TOLOnews on Monday. 

Raziq also accused Iran, along with Pakistan, of supporting, equipping and training insurgents and said Pakistan is Afghanistan’s enemy. In line with this he called on the international community to increase pressure on Islamabad.

“They (Pakistan) have positioned terrorists on both sides of the Durand Line; they train them there and want to have control over the southern region and along Afghanistan’s shared borders with Iran and Pakistan. They want to weaken government and are involved in drug smuggling, the control of mines and with the money they earn in this way, they create terrorist centers here and finance them,” said Raziq.

According to him, Pakistan aims to transfer Quetta Council, known us Quetta Shura, to southern Helmand province where Taliban leaders and their families will be based.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Abbasi’s Remarks On Afghan-Indian Ties ‘Foolish’

By Massoud Ansar

A number of senators on Sunday sharply criticized Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for his remarks on Afghan-Indian relations and such his utterances were in fact an interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. 

Head of the senate Fazlulhadi Muslimyar labeled the remarks ‘foolish’ and said Pakistan politicians do not have independence and they are the loud-speakers of Pakistan’s military. 

Abbasi last week said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York city that Islamabad did not have any problems with New Delhi’s financial support to Afghanistan, but that it would never condone India’s political or military role in Afghanistan.

“We denounce Pakistan's Prime Minister’s remarks. Along with the condemnation, I must say it is very rude and foolish,” said Muslimyar.

“Pakistan Prime Minister has no logic, he may suffer nervous or mental problems,” senator Nisar Haris said.

A number of senators said Afghanistan is an independent country and can have relations with any country in the world. 

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: Pakistan Wants ‘Zero’ Political or Military Role for India in Afghanistan

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has vowed to remain engaged with the United States in fighting regional terrorism and stabilizing Afghanistan, but said “any political or military” role for its archenemy India in the war-torn country will be unacceptable for Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made the remarks late Wednesday during a public talk at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

While outlining his long-awaited “new strategy” for the Afghan war and South Asia last month, U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for a greater role for New Delhi in Afghanistan despite Islamabad’s long running objection.

“If they [India] want to do economic assistance, that’s their prerogative, but there’s no — we don’t accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan,” Abbasi asserted. “I think it will just complicate the situation and it will not resolve anything,” warned the Pakistani prime minister.

Islamabad alleges the Indian intelligence agency is partnering with Afghan security institutions to fund and plot terrorist attacks against Pakistan through fugitive anti-state militants.

Kabul and New Delhi deny the charges.

News Story: Pakistani’s Abbasi Opposed To Any Role For India In Afghanistan

Addressing an event in New York, Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said Islamabad is not in favor of any military or political role for India in Afghanistan, AP reported.      

"India, we don't foresee any military or political or military role for India in Afghanistan,” Abbasi said. 

“I think it will just complicate the situation and it will not resolve anything. So if they want to do economic assistance, that's their prerogative. But we don't accept or see any role politically or militarily for India in Afghanistan."

He said Pakistan has received no foreign aid in the fight against "terror".

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: 6 Pakistanis injured in blast along Pakistan-Afghanistan border

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least six Pakistani security personnel were injured in a bomb explosion along Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Khyber Agency, local media reported on Friday.

The blast happened near Torkham border crossing at Pakistan side of the border, Dunya News said.

The border was closed for all kinds of transport, following the attack.

Security forces cordoned off the area for investigation, but the nature of the attack has not been determined yet.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Pakistan, Afghan FMs to meet in New York this month - ministry

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani agreed on Wednesday to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York later this month, the foreign ministry here said.

Asif spoke to the Afghan foreign minister over the telephone and conveyed that "Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Afghanistan and is prepared to work with Afghanistan in all fields including political, economic, trade and transit, security, and other fields for the progress and prosperity of the two countries," according to a foreign ministry statement.

He also underlined Pakistan's support for Afghan owned and Afghan led peace process to bring lasting peace and stability to Afghanistan, the statement said.

"The two foreign ministers agreed to remain engaged for building closer cooperation between the two countries. They also agreed to meet on the sidelines of UNGA in New York later this month," the statement said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: A Look At Ghani’s Multi-Pronged Pakistan Policy

By Tamim Hamid

Immediately after assuming office as president of Afghanistan, president Ashraf Ghani undertook the bold but controversial move of adopting a conciliatory approach toward Pakistan to secure Islamabad’s cooperation in bringing the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

Over the past two years, Ghani has come up with several messages to Pakistan to persuade the neighboring nation to accomplish its responsibility in the fight against terrorism and brokering purposeful peace negotiation talks with the Taliban group.

In his latest message to Pakistan, Ghani reiterated calls to Pakistan to enter a political dialogue and to include peace with Pakistan at the top of the Afghanistan national agenda.

Sour relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have frequently made headlines and ties between the two countries have passed through major ups and downs over the course of time.

“Before this, Pakistan was dealing with Afghanistan as a marginalized point, Pakistan believed that if the Karachi port is closed, if Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings are closed, there would be screaming and shouting but the era of shouting and screaming has passed my brother,” said Ghani during a speech in Kabul four months ago.

But, on a different occasion, Ghani tried to draw red lines for Pakistan.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Pakistan welcomes Afghan president's remarks on talks

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Saturday welcomed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's statement that his country is ready for comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan.

President Ghani, in his message on the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Azha, said that peace with Pakistan is on his country's national agenda.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif hailed the Afghan president's remarks in a statement, saying that his country is willing to hold talks with Afghanistan in line with a bilateral mechanism.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Pakistani Senate asks gov't to summon U.S. envoy over Trump's policy

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani Senate on Wednesday asked the government to summon the U.S. ambassador to convey concern of the country and the people over U.S. President Donald Trump's regional strategy that shifted blame to Pakistan of the U.S. failure in Afghanistan.

President Trump in his Afghan-South Asia Policy statement this month had warned that his administration can no longer be silent about "Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond."

A statement by the Pakistani Senate, or Upper House of the Parliament, said the House has instructed the foreign minister to present a fact sheet to Washington about Pakistan's contributions and sacrifices in the "war against terror" and the logistical facilities Pakistan has provided on the ground and in the air to the United States and NATO troops.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Pakistan Feels The Heat Under Trump’s New War Strategy

By Karim Amini

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has warned that Pakistan could lose its status as a privileged military ally if Islamabad does not change its approach towards insurgents enjoying safe havens in the country.

“We are going to be conditioning our support for Pakistan and our relationship with them on them delivering results in this area. We want to work with Pakistan in a positive way, but they must change their approach,” Tillerson said.

This new development takes place a day after US President Donald Trump announced his new war strategy on Afghanistan which includes the deployment of  additional US troops and efforts to force a resurgent Taliban to negotiate a political settlement with the government in Kabul.

Tillerson said that the Trump administration was considering many options on Pakistan including a complete termination of financial aid to Pakistan as a non-NATO ally.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Envoy Calls For Olive Branch To Pakistan

By Mir Aqa Popalzai

Further close cooperation must be ensured between Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to overcome common challenges, including terrorism, facing the two nations, said Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day ceremony at Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Tuesday, he claimed that Afghanistan should extend the hand of friendship towards Pakistan instead of taking orders from western countries.

“We are sharing common interests, our benefits and losses are one. If we stand alongside each other, I am confident that hopefully no power in the world can cast an evil eye toward us,” he told the gathering.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan said the Pakistani armed forces have fought bravely against all militant groups without any discrimination.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: What Does Sharif's Ouster in Islamabad Mean for South Asia?

Nawaz Sharif (Image: Wiki Commons)

Nazrana Ghaffar

WASHINGTON — The removal of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has opened the door for opportunity and potential peril — in the country's foreign policy, specifically in dealing with Afghanistan, India and the United States.

Some experts believe that Sharif, who was disqualified and removed from office on corruption charges in a case dubbed the Panama leaks, challenged the powerful military establishment at a time when the U.S. is pondering a new strategy for the volatile region.

"While the Panama leaks were fortuitous, Mr. Sharif's crime seems to be the same this time around: crossing the military by pursuing conciliatory policies toward India as well as Afghanistan and by reportedly demanding that Inter-Services Intelligence end its use of militant groups as tools of foreign policy," University of Oklahoma professor Aqil Shah wrote in The New York Times.

Shah told VOA that Sharif issued statements at the start of his tenure that Pakistan would not interfere in Afghanistan`s internal issues, but he backed off under constant pressure from the military establishment.

News Story: Pakistan Builds New Check Posts in Disputed Areas

By Karim Amini

The Afghan border police say the Pakistani military has started building dozens of check posts at points on the Zero Zone along the Durand Line in areas located in Spin Boldak district of the southern Kandahar province.

According to the Afghan border forces, the check posts are apparently being built in the controversial villages of Loqman and Jahangir that Afghanistan consider as part of its own territory.

This comes three months after Afghan security forces engaged in a deadly battle with the Pakistani forces in the area after Pakistan military tried to conduct a survey in the controversial villages. Both sides sustained casualties in the fighting.

“The Pakistanis want us to determine the border with them. We are not in a position to do so as that authority lies with Afghanistan’s people and the central government,” Col. Sharif Gharzay, commander of the 3rd battalion of Afghan Border Police Gharzay said.

Nearly three months ago border forces opened fire on each other across the Durand Line after Afghan authorities accused Pakistani officials of having breached their territory.

Afghan border officials said that Pakistan built dozen of check posts in the Loqman and Jahangir villages of Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: Pakistan Dismisses US Assertions Fighting Terrorism 'Selectively'

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has dismissed latest U.S. assertions it is “selectively” fighting terrorist groups or allowing insurgents to use Pakistani soil for plotting attacks against Afghanistan.

U.S. National Security Adviser McMaster told an American news station Saturday that the Trump administration wants regional countries, particularly Pakistan to stop providing “safe haven and support bases” to the Taliban and Haqqani Network.

"Pakistan has taken action against all the terrorist elements without discrimination. We have never allowed nor will anybody ever be allowed to use Pakistan's soil against any other country,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria told VOA when asked for his comments on McMaster’s assertions.

The spokesman went on to say that Pakistan and the United States have been cooperating in counterterrorism such issues came under discussion when the acting American envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan visited Islamabad last week.

News Story: Soldiers Make Headway In Military Operation In Janikhail

By Abdulhaq Omeri

Government forces are making progress in the ongoing military operation in Janikhail district in the far east of Paktia province, military officials confirmed.

The officials said the military operation was launched on Tuesday. 

Janikhail, a strategic district close to the Durand Line, was captured by the Taliban eight days ago. 

“Key areas of Janikhail including Reshpakai Pass (towards the center of the district) were retaken by government forces early on Tuesday morning at 5am local time. So far, 101 Taliban fighters including foreign fighters have been killed and 87 others wounded and two vehicles belonging to the Taliban were destroyed during the operation,” said Major Gen. Abdul Wase Milad, Commander of 203 Atal Military Corps.

According to Paktia officials, Taliban has suffered heavy losses in offensives by security forces. 

“Security forces are advancing by adapting special tactics against the Taliban. Taliban has suffered heavy losses in the battle. Key check posts were retaken,” Paktia Police Chief Colonel Nisar Ahmad Abdul Rahimzai said.

A Border Police commander meanwhile suggested that the local check posts in various parts of the district must be strengthened – in order to prevent a comeback by the Taliban.  

“Same as last year, this year too, check posts fell to the enemy. These check posts must be reinforced and empowered. The check posts near the Durand Line must be strengthened,” said Raz Mohammad Mandozai, commander of Second Regiment of Afghan Border Police in Paktia.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: Kabul Hopes Next Pakistani Prime Minister Will Fight Terror

By Samim Faramarz

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Saturday said Afghanistan hopes that the next Pakistani prime minister would fight terror and take practical steps to remove terrorists’ safe havens in Pakistan.

Afghanistan wants friendly relations with Pakistan, the MoFA spokesman Shekib Mustaghni said, adding that Islamabad must take action against terrorists.

“We hope that Pakistan will take serious, honest and practical steps in the fight against terrorism and will uproot their (terrorists’) safe havens and training camps, and also remove their funding and equipping centers on the Pakistani soil,” Mustaghni told TOLOnews.

Afghan analysts said Islamabad’s policy towards Kabul would not change. The analysts said Pakistani military control’s Pakistan’s foreign policy – which will not allow the civilian government to amend its policy towards Kabul.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Report: Afghan Forces Rescue 2 Pakistani Diplomats

Ayaz Gul

ISLAMABAD — Afghan security forces Wednesday safely recovered two Pakistani diplomats weeks after they were abducted in eastern Afghanistan.

The men were serving at Pakistan's consulate general in the Afghan city of Jalalabad and traveling back to their country on June 16 when they went missing. No one had claimed responsibility for kidnapping the diplomats.

“President Ashraf Ghani personally phoned Pakistan's Charge d'Affiares in Kabul to inform that the Afghan security forces had recovered the two Pakistani officials in a security operation,” the foreign ministry in Islamabad said.

The two officials were later handed over to the embassy and were to be flown back to Pakistan to join their families as soon as possible, the ministry said, and thanked the Afghan government for the rescue.

News Story: (Afghan) MoD Criticizes Pakistan Over Military Operation

By Sharif Amiri

Officials at the Ministry of Defence have criticized Pakistan over its “un-coordinated” military operation close to the Afghan border and said that “Islamabad is trying to push Haqqani network and other insurgents into Afghanistan.”

Dawlat Wazizi, a spokesman for the MoD said that “Pakistan should target areas being monitored by U.S and China and ones that the Afghan government considered as a threat.”

Pakistan launched a military operation ten days ago - Khyber-IV operation - close to the Afghan border “which was supposed to be monitored by the U.S and China.”

On Saturday, the Pakistan Army announced that it had completed the first phase of Operation Khyber-IV in the Rajgal area of Khyber Agency after gaining control of a key mountain top called Brekh Top.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the valley associated with Brekh Top is now cleared adding that the mountain top had been cleared on Friday night by the Special Services Group (SSG).

Read the full story at TOLOnews