ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan addressed a pressing concern on Wednesday, highlighting an alarming rise in terrorism incidents within the country following the establishment of the interim government in Afghanistan.
Speaking during a press conference in Islamabad, PM Kakar disclosed that Pakistan had experienced a troubling 60 percent surge in terrorism-related activities since the Afghan Taliban took power.
PM Kakar emphasized the need for the Afghan interim government to recognize the independence of both countries and refrain from allowing its territory to be used for destabilizing Pakistan. He underlined the presence of Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan without proper documentation, involved in acts of terrorism and criminal activities. Pakistan’s leadership reiterated its right to deport such illegal migrants.
Furthermore, Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister urged Kabul to cooperate by handing over individuals responsible for acts of terror within Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan had already provided a list of wanted terrorists to the Afghan Taliban, a measure aimed at addressing the growing security concerns.
However, PM Kakar expressed his regret over the lack of action by the Afghan interim government in dealing with cross-border terrorism, implicitly referring to groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other extremist organizations.
In response to the Afghan government’s failure to act positively, Pakistan initiated steps to address the situation. These measures included the deportation of illegal foreign residents, a move that became necessary given the challenging circumstances. The statements issued by Afghan officials further complicated the resolution of these critical matters, rendering amicable solutions elusive.
Addressing questions related to the deportation of illegal Afghan nationals and the reaction of nationalist parties within Pakistan, the caretaker prime minister asserted the importance of regulating cross-border movements. He firmly rejected any notion that Pakhtuns were being unfairly targeted and stressed his own Pakhtun identity, emphasizing that targeting any specific community is unacceptable.
Additionally, PM Kakar emphasized the objective evidence of the use of American weapons against Pakistan. He deemed the United States’ denial or acceptance of this fact as irrelevant, stating that documented evidence supported the assertion.
The disappearance of the 150,000-strong Afghan military within two days raised questions about the whereabouts of their weapons, which included small arms and undocumented firearms. It was discovered that these weapons had found their way into the black market and were being used in acts of terrorism, not only within Pakistan but across the region, extending as far as the Middle East. This alarming trend was highlighted as a matter of grave concern, prompting Pakistan to address it at various levels, including discussions with American authorities.
