By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected a claim by the Afghan Taliban authorities that weapons were being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for what they described as “subversive activities”.
The ministry termed the allegation frivolous and baseless, saying it was contrary to established facts. It said Afghanistan already had large quantities of sophisticated weapons and military equipment.
According to the ministry, military equipment worth an estimated $7.2bn had been left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US and coalition forces. It added that the country also possessed substantial stocks of Soviet-era weapons accumulated over several decades.
The ministry said attempts to establish a Pakistani connection to the weapons appeared to divert international attention from concerns over the presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
It said such groups had been documented as planning, supporting and carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. The ministry maintained that the issue required serious attention rather than accusations against Pakistan.
It urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to address the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan instead of resorting to what it described as implausible allegations and blame-shifting.
The ministry also recalled repeated commitments by the Afghan authorities that their territory would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.
It said those commitments needed to be honoured through concrete action. Pakistan, it added, expected the Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to plan or facilitate attacks against neighbouring countries.
The statement came amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security concerns and allegations about militant activity along the border. Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul to take action against groups operating from Afghan territory.
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