Achakzai: Pakistan Must Prove Use of Afghan Soil Against It

As military tensions resume along the Hypothetical Durand Line between Afghanistan and Pakistan, domestic criticism of Islamabad’s approach toward Afghanistan has also increased.

The leader of Pakistan’s opposition, during a session of the National Assembly, stated that due to Islamabad’s misguided policies, Pakistan has suffered significant losses by severing trade ties with Afghanistan.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai said: “From Chaman to Khyber, Afghans are present here. We have nearly eight crossing routes. I have said before and I repeat today: we have incurred losses due to wrong policies. Today, farmers in Punjab are discarding their produce. Afghanistan was your market the only country where billions of rupees worth of your investments were ongoing. But you destroyed that market.”

The opposition leader also stressed the importance of improving ties with Afghanistan.

Achakzai called on Pakistan to present documents and evidence to the UN Security Council and neighboring countries if it wants to substantiate its claims that Afghan soil is being used against it.

Achakzai added: “My suggestion is that the UN Secretary-General be requested to convene a meeting with the participation of Afghanistan and neighboring countries a meeting in which the responsible members of the UN Security Council act as guarantors. If Pakistan has any evidence or proof regarding the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, it must present them to the Security Council.”

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, during a meeting in Islamabad, claimed that due to Kabul’s failure to prevent the use of Afghan territory against Pakistan, Islamabad has been forced to suspend all trade with Afghanistan.

Shahbaz Sharif also stated that dialogue with Afghanistan failed because Islamabad’s concerns were ignored.

Mr. Sharif said: “No result was achieved. We had only one request: that you commit to controlling all terrorist groups and proxy forces, whether it be BLA, TTP, or those receiving support from India.”

These remarks by Pakistan’s Prime Minister come after the Islamic Emirate previously attributed the failure of talks with Pakistan to Islamabad’s unreasonable demands from Kabul.

Earlier, Aimal Wali Khan had also stated that after every security incident in Pakistan, Islamabad hastily blames Afghanistan without any investigation or evidence.