Pakistan vows to work with new Afghan govt

By Agencies in Islamabad and Kabul | China Daily | Updated: 2014-09-26 08:11

Pakistan said on Thursday that it will seek to resolve all terrorism-related and border issues with the new Afghan government.

Cross-border attacks and blame games have soured relations between the two neighbors, whose cooperation is important not only for peace in Afghanistan, but also for the ongoing military operation in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.

Outgoing President Hamid Karzai blamed Pakistan and the United States in his farewell speech for the continuing war in Afghanistan, and he also claimed that Pakistan "always wanted control over Afghanistan's foreign policy".

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry avoided responding to Karzai's allegations, saying Pakistan and Afghanistan face common challenges that can be confronted only through joint collaboration.

"We look forward to working closely with the new Afghan government to further strengthen bilateral relations. We hope to resolve all issues with Afghanistan like terrorism and cross-border attacks," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

"We are looking forward to work closely with the new Afghan government to resolve issues of terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil and cross-border attacks. Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors, and they are bound to each other by multiple ties," she said at her weekly briefing.

With regard to the question of the presence of the terrorist group Khorasan, Tasnim Aslam said she is not aware of the existence of this group in Pakistan.

She added that she believed this group in Syria and Iraq is a new phenomenon that is preaching hate and hatred.

"We, however, stand with the international community in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," she said, adding that Pakistan's military is resolutely taking action against terrorists in the North Waziristan tribal region without any discrimination.

Also on Thursday, the runner-up in Afghanistan's disputed election, Abdullah Abdullah, congratulated his rival, Ashraf Ghani, on becoming president, seeking to quell fears of unrest after the two agreed to share power.

In his first public address since former fiance minister Ghani was declared the winner on Sunday, Abdullah said he had to accept a deal to avoid violence for the sake of the people.

Xinhua - Reuters