Afghanistan: Pakistani diplomacy denies accusations of aid to the Taliban

Taliban fighters patrolling the streets of Kabul, August 16, 2021 (Illustrative image).

- AFP

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2 min

Pakistan is regularly singled out for hosting and even training Taliban fighters on its soil.

In front of the press at the Pakistani embassy in Paris, the charge d'affaires Abbas Sarwar Qureshi brushed aside the accusations concerning his involvement in the return of the Taliban with a backhand and assures that his government wants to play a constructive role to pacify Afghanistan.

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There is no sanctuary for the Taliban in Pakistan,

 " insisted Abbas Sarwar Qureshi.

The rapid advance of the insurgents, now masters of Kabul, proves only one thing, according to this diplomat: that the Taliban have never ceased to control a good part of Afghanistan.

However, he admits, supervising the comings and goings of the 4 million Afghan refugees is no easy task.

A fence along the border must henceforth guarantee better control, assures the diplomat.

India responsible for instability, says Pakistan

Who would be the main troublemaker?

Chargé d'affaires Abbas Sarwar Qureshi points the finger at India, Pakistan's notorious enemy.

New Delhi would never have wanted a stable Afghanistan on the contrary.

India would have supported al-Qaeda, the Islamic State or even the Islamic fundamentalists of the TTP to attack Pakistan and undermine relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

With the Taliban in power, the Pakistani government wants only one thing, Abbas Sarwar Quereshi said: a peaceful, unified and prosperous Afghanistan.

This is the only way for Islamabad to complete its plans to build roads, gas pipelines and a railroad that is to link Pakistan to Uzbekistan via Afghanistan.

► To read also: In Afghanistan, the American "military failure", a chance for a lasting peace according to Iran

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  • Afghanistan

  • Taliban

  • Pakistan