Taliban has responsibility to prevent terror attacks: US

WASHINGTON: The United States has stated that the Afghan Taliban must work to eliminate terrorism, while Pakistan blames Afghanistan for harbouring Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Taliban has the responsibility to prevent Afghanistan from being used as a safe haven for launching terrorist attacks,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing.

This came after the the Pakistan Army said Islamabad faces security risks because of Afghanistan allowing “sanctuaries and liberty of action to terrorists of proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk”.

At the 258th Corps Commanders Conference chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, the army said that the TTP had obtained access to the latest weaponry because of their Afghan sanctuaries.

Last week, the Army said it was seriously concerned that militants had found safe havens in the neighbouring nation and threatened to take an “effective response” after 12 of its soldiers were martyred in two attacks.

Terror attacks in Pakistan have soared since November last year when the TTP ended its ceasefire agreement with Islamabad, with the armed forces also ramping up efforts against militants.

In an interview with BBC Pashto, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in response to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks that Afghanistan is not fulfilling its obligations under the Doha peace accord, said that they did not sign the accord with Islamabad. This has caused major concerns for Pakistani leadership.