ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Friday hit back at allegations that terrorist havens existed in the country’s tribal areas, saying it was Afghanistan that had become a hotbed of terrorism because of continuing instability there.

“It is, therefore, not appropriate to blame others for the adversities due to the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan,” an FO statement said while dismissing renewed terrorism allegations levelled by Afghan authorities in the aftermath of a series of blasts near the Afghan parliament and at the Kandahar governor’s office on Tuesday.

A large demonstration was, meanwhile, held outside Pakistan Embassy in Kabul in protest against Islamabad’s alleged ‘support for terrorist groups’.

The FO statement came as Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi visited the UAE Embassy in Islamabad to express condolences on death of five Emirati diplomats in the Kandahar attack.

The statement recalled that several terrorist organisations, including the Haqqani network’s leadership, Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the militant Islamic State group, Al Qaeda and Jamaatul Ahrar, had established their bases inside Afghanistan due to instability there.

Pakistan had immediately after the attacks condemned the incidents and reaffirmed its commitment for continued efforts and cooperation for eliminating terrorism. Apart from the condemnation by the FO, Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had in a rare gesture also offered condolences and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Afghanistan.

Afghan officials, however, resorted to blame game and alleged that terrorists were being enabled by sanctuaries in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Afghan allegations were endorsed by the US State Department which said it agreed with the Afghan assessment and the problem of safe havens in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas persisted despite the military operations there. Interestingly, the State Department’s observation came a day after the top US general in Afghanistan, Gen John Nicholson, visited Miramshah along with Gen Bajwa for witnessing progress being made there after the counterterrorism operations.

“The US parliamentarians and US commanders have visited the Fata... and publicly acknowledged the successes of Pakistan’s counterterrorism drive,” the FO recalled and reiterated the commitment about not allowing the use of Pakistani territory for attacks against any other country.

“Pakistan remains committed to peace efforts in Afghanistan as it is not only in the interest of the region but more importantly, Pakistan. It is unfortunate that our sincere efforts towards stability in Afghanistan are being maligned,” the statement noted.

The FO said that border management measures that Pakistan was undertaking were “imperative” for countering terrorism.

Kabul had initially resisted Pakistan’s border management plans and the construction of a gate at the Torkham border last year led to a clash with casualties on both sides. But, better sense seems to have prevailed and the project is progressing.

Up to 12 crossing points are planned to be built and a large part of the 2,500km porous border is planned to be fenced or manned by paramilitary troops.

“Pakistan will continue its policy of cooperation with international community to defeat the menace of terrorism. We will not indulge in blame game and expect others to do the same,” the FO statement said.

The FO used the occasion to remind that Afghan soil was being used by India against Pakistan.

“We wish to reemphasise that some foreign elements are exploiting the situation and using Afghan soil against Pakistan, in particular, and the region at large. The activities of Indian RAW and NDS nexus remains a matter of deep concern to Pakistan,” it maintained.

Published in Dawn January 14th, 2017