New Delhi: Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, speaking from Indian soil on Sunday, warned Pakistan that Afghanistan has other options against Islamabad if peace talks fail, claiming that "certain sections" in Islamabad want to spoil ties between both countries.
"We only want good relations and peace. When someone tries to interfere in our internal matters, all civilians, government heads, 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 free and is working for peace. If Pakistan doesn't want good relations and peace, then Afghanistan has other options as well," Muttaqi said while addressing a media briefing in New Delhi.
He added, "The people of Pakistan, in the majority, are peace-loving and want good relations with Afghanistan. We have no issues with Pakistani civilians. There is a section in Pakistan that is creating tension. Afghanistan will safeguard its borders and its national interest, and that is why it immediately retaliated to the escalation from Pakistan. We achieved our military objectives last night, and our friends, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have expressed that this conflict should come to an end, so we have paused it from our side for the time being. The situation is now under control."
Muttaqi said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not present in Afghanistan, and alleged that Pakistan carried out operations in the region, causing the displacement of several tribal people. "There is no presence of TTP in Afghanistan now. Even prior to our return to Kabul, the Pakistan military carried out operations in tribal areas that led to the displacement of a large number of people. The US military and the US-supported former government gave refuge to them on Afghan soil. They are Pakistani people from displaced areas and are allowed to live in the country as refugees... The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the Durand Line, is more than 2,400 km long. It could neither be controlled by 'Changez' nor 'Angrez'," he said.
"We only want good relations and peace. When someone tries to interfere in our internal matters, all civilians, government heads, 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 free and is working for peace. If Pakistan doesn't want good relations and peace, then Afghanistan has other options as well," Muttaqi said while addressing a media briefing in New Delhi.
He added, "The people of Pakistan, in the majority, are peace-loving and want good relations with Afghanistan. We have no issues with Pakistani civilians. There is a section in Pakistan that is creating tension. Afghanistan will safeguard its borders and its national interest, and that is why it immediately retaliated to the escalation from Pakistan. We achieved our military objectives last night, and our friends, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have expressed that this conflict should come to an end, so we have paused it from our side for the time being. The situation is now under control."
Muttaqi said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is not present in Afghanistan, and alleged that Pakistan carried out operations in the region, causing the displacement of several tribal people. "There is no presence of TTP in Afghanistan now. Even prior to our return to Kabul, the Pakistan military carried out operations in tribal areas that led to the displacement of a large number of people. The US military and the US-supported former government gave refuge to them on Afghan soil. They are Pakistani people from displaced areas and are allowed to live in the country as refugees... The Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the Durand Line, is more than 2,400 km long. It could neither be controlled by 'Changez' nor 'Angrez'," he said.
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