Afghanistan can not become safe haven for terrorism again: US State Department

WASHINGTON: United States (US) Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stated that the US does not want to see Afghanistan become a “safe haven for terrorism again” late on Tuesday.

During a press briefing, the deputy spokesperson addressed concerns about potential Taliban “expansionism”, particularly in light of recent unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan.

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Non-bailable arrest warrants issued for the province’s chief minister following riots last year have fueled fears about stability in the region amidst Taliban’s suspected intention to expand.

Patel responded that the US is “very clear about the fact that [it] [does] not want Afghanistan to become a safe haven for terrorism”.

Patel went on to state that the US holds regular discussions on counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan to maintain regional security. “When it comes to counter terrorism cooperation with our Pakistani partners, that is something we engage in with them on quite regularly”, he said.

When asked about apparent contradictions, such as the US ambassador’s meeting with Pakistan’s Finance Minister under premiership of Shehbaz Sharif, whose nephews were acquitted in a Panama Papers corruption case, Patel declared the legal matter an “internal matter of Pakistan”.

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He also declined to comment further on Ambassador Blome’s meeting, deferring inquires to the US officials in Islamabad.

“In discussing Ambassador Blome’s bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sharif, there are a number of issues that I am sure he looks forward to discussing […] I will let our team in Islamabad speak more about that at its conclusion”, he stated.