ISLAMABAD: Day after Pakistan sought Afghan help to apprehend perpetrators of terrorist attack on Chinese engineers, Taliban government turned down Islamabad’s request, claiming Kabul had nothing to do with March 26 incident.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent Interior Secretary to Kabul with message to seek assistance from Afghanistan in ongoing investigations into Besham attack.

Secretary Interior Muhammad Khurram Agha held talks with Afghan interim Deputy Interior Minister and shared evidence linking attack on Chinese engineers with Afghan territory.

Foreign office statement said Afghan side agreed to examine findings of investigation and expressed resolve to work with Pakistan side to take investigation to its logical conclusion.

However, spokesperson for Afghan Taliban government rejected Pakistan’s statement, saying Pakistan was trying to create distrust between Kabul and Beijing.

Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for Islamic Emirate, in response to Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement about perpetrators of attack on Chinese citizens in Pakistan. “This issue has nothing to do with Afghanistan and Pakistan should ensure its own security,” he claimed.

He said, “Targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan is related to Pakistan and has nothing to do with Afghanistan. Report published by Pakistanis is an attempt to create distrust between China and Afghanistan. We have repeatedly denied this and it is also illogical.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, June, 01 2024

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