Pakistan urges Afghanistan to ensure their land isn't used for terrorist activities

Islamabad: Foreign Office says the latest UN Security Council report endorses Pakistan's view that Afghanistan has hideouts and sanctuaries for terrorist groups including "Fitna al-Khawarij", the banned TTP.   

At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the report contains the view that the TTP could transform into an extra regional threat as well as umbrella organization of other terror groups.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged Afghanistan to take immediate, effective and robust action against the terrorist groups including Fitna al-Khawarij.

She said the Afghan side should ensure that their land is not used for terrorist activities inside Pakistan.

Referring to the killing of Chief of the Political Bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, she said targeting individuals inside sovereign states is a violation of international law and global norms. Such acts carry the seeds of further escalation. She said it is yet another demonstration of indiscriminate and disproportionate Israeli aggression that has continued unabated to the detriment of regional and global peace and security. 

The spokesperson said Israel must be held accountable for its transgressions and actions. She said Israel’s extraterritorial acts have endangered regional security. She urged the backers of Israel to prevail on Israel to end its unlawful military operations in violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan's support for the realization of the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, their right of return to Palestine and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

As regards the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson urged India to reverse the illegal and unilateral actions taken there since 5th August 2019.  She said India should take necessary steps to create an environment conducive to peaceful resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.