Only points of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan are presence of TTP, cross-border attacks: COAS

Peshawar: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has said that the only points of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan are the presence of the banned militant Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) outfit in the latter and cross-border attacks.

According to state broadcaster PTV News, the army chief's remarks came at a meeting with politicians from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during his Peshawar visit a day ago .

Gen Munir said that Afghanistan was a “brotherly neighbour and an Islamic country” with which Pakistan “has always wanted” better relations.

“The only difference with Afghanistan is the presence of Fitna al-Khawarij in Afghanistan and the spread of terrorism in Pakistan from across the border, and it will remain so until they remove this issue,” the army chief was quoted as saying.

The army chief said that no large-scale operation was being carried out in KP and nor was the TTP active in any area of ​​Pakistan, adding that only targeted operations were carried out based on intelligence.