——- Seeks ‘security cooperation’ with Afghan govt
——- Discusses various existing issues
——- cRepeats demand for action against TTP militants
——- Afghan Deputy Interior Minister says visits help solve problems, expand bilateral relations
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation met Afghan officials in Kabul on Thursday and sought “security cooperation” while taking up the terrorist attack in the Bisham area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which killed five Chi-nese and their Pakistani driver.
Five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver were killed in the suicide bombing on March 26 as their bus was attacked in the Bisham city of Shangla district. They were travelling between Islamabad and a hydroelectric dam construction site in KP’s Dasu.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said last week that the attack was planned in Afghanistan by the out-lawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He had demanded the Afghan interim government hand over the TTP leaders, including its chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsood.
The Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had denied Naqvi’s statement and said Pa-kistan should not hold Kabul responsible for its failure.
The Afghan interim government had condemned the Bisham attack in a statement. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack and the TTP says it was not involved.
In a statement issued today, the Foreign Office (FO) said that Interior Secretary Khurram Agha visited Kabul on the “special directions” of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and held a detailed meeting with Interim Afghan Deputy Minister for Interior Muhammad Nabi Omari.
It said the secretary shared the government’s findings about the Bisham attack and sought Afghani-stan’s assistance in apprehending the perpetrators.
“The Afghan side reiterated its commitment to prevent the use of their soil for any terrorist activity against other countries, including Pakistan.
“The Afghan side also agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and expressed the resolve to work with the Pakistan side to take the investigation to its logical conclusion. The two sides agreed to remain engaged to confront the threat posed by terrorism to regional countries and to address the concerns raised by Pakistan,” the FO said. Meanwhile, a statement from the Afghan interior ministry said Omari welcomed the delegation and said the trip was “effective in solving problems and develop-ing relations”
“The visiting delegation mentioned that the security in the region is beneficial for everyone and ex-pressed the hope that some of the existing problems will be solved,” it said.
The Afghan interior ministry’s statement said Agha spoke about the terrorist attack in Bisham and ex-pressed the desire for cooperation from the Afghan side in security.
Omari said Afghanistan sought peace for itself and wanted the same for others.
“We do not believe in ‘evil’ politics. Our intentions and actions are to promote peace in the region for the benefit of ourselves and everyone,” the statement quoted him as saying.
The Afghan minister said that the Bisham terrorist act was a tragic incident. “All of us should take re-sponsibility for the security of our areas and instead of diverting issues, we should facilitate in real co-operation,” he added.
He said the Islamic Emirate was committed to not allowing others to use its territory against anyone and expected the same from others.
