ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week warned Afghanistan that Islamabad would take “all necessary defense measures” if Kabul failed to take action against militants that he alleged operate from Afghan soil.
Ahmad was speaking during a UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan during which he said Pakistan had lost 1,200 lives to “terrorism” this year that were planned, financed and orchestrated under the Afghan government’s watch.
The development takes place as tensions persist between Islamabad and Kabul after deadly October clashes between the two that killed dozens of people on both sides. Pakistan routinely blames Afghanistan for not taking action against Pakistani Taliban militants allegedly present on Afghan soil. Kabul denies the allegation and says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
Tensions escalated in late November after two rounds of failed talks in Doha and Istanbul between the two sides. Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out strikes on its territory. Pakistan’s military denied the claims as the Taliban vowed to retaliate.
“The Taliban must take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist groups based on their soil, failing which; Pakistan will take all necessary defensive measures for the protection of its citizens, territory and sovereignty,” Ahmad said on Wednesday.
