Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Aamir Khan Muttaqi has warned Pakistan that it has other options if it does not want peace. More than 50 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in border clashes and 19 Afghan border posts have been captured by Pakistan.
Muttaqi said Afghanistan has no problems with civilians, but “some elements in Pakistan are creating tension.”
The cross-border attacks follow Pakistani air strikes on the Afghan capital on Thursday, for which Kabul blamed Islamabad. Major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been closed after fierce clashes.
Afghan officials say their forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in overnight operations along the border, while Pakistan puts the number at 23. According to Al Jazeera report, Pakistan says that its security forces have captured 19 Afghan border posts.
He said, “The majority of people of Pakistan are peace-loving and want good relations with Afghanistan. We have no problem with Pakistani citizens. There are some elements in Pakistan which are creating tension.”
He said Afghanistan achieved “our military objectives” by retaliating to the escalation by Pakistan last night.
He said, “Afghanistan will defend its borders and its national interests and that is why it immediately responded to the violence by Pakistan. We achieved our military objectives last night and our friends Qatar and Saudi Arabia have said that this conflict should end, so we have stopped it from our side for now. The situation is now under control. We only want good relations and peace.”
Muttaqi said that even if Afghanistan is attacked, it will remain united.
He said, “When someone tries to interfere in our internal affairs, all citizens, heads of government, Ulemas and all religious leaders come together to fight in the interest of the country. Afghanistan has been in conflict for 40 years. Afghanistan is finally independent and working for peace. If Pakistan does not want good relations and peace, Afghanistan also has other options.”
Muttaqi said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not present in Afghanistan, and alleged that US-backed Pakistan has conducted operations in the region, which have led to the displacement of many tribal people.
He said, “TIP no longer has any presence in Afghanistan. Even before we returned to Kabul, the Pakistani army had launched operations in the tribal areas, due to which a large number of people were displaced. The US military and the former US-backed government had given them refuge on Afghan soil. They are Pakistani people from displaced areas and are allowed to live in the country as refugees.”
He further said, “The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the Durand Line, is more than 2,400 kilometers long. Neither ‘Changez’ nor ‘the British’ could control it.”
Muttaki said that if Pakistan wants peace, it should work for it. He should not risk the lives of many people to please a few.
He said, “It cannot be controlled by force alone. If Pakistan wants peace, they have a big army and better intelligence, then why are they not controlling it? This fight is within Pakistan. Instead of blaming us, they should control the issues in their region.”
He said, “Why is Pakistan not taking its people into confidence? Many people in Pakistan, and certainly we, do not want this fighting to continue. But Pakistan must control these groups. Why put its own people in danger to please a few?”
