Afghanistan must ensure its soil not used for terrorism in Pakistan: Sartaj Aziz

Islamabad [Pakistan], Feb. 18 (ANI): Adviser to the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has urged the Afghan Government to take strong action against terror elements, to reaffirm that its soil was not being used for terrorism in Pakistan. Aziz on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar and underlined that the Government and the people of Pakistan were in a state of deep anguish and pain at the recent terrorist incidents in various parts of Pakistan resulting into loss of precious human lives. He informed the Afghan National Security Adviser that terrorist group Jamat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) was behind these barbaric acts of terrorism. Aziz expressed serious concern that JuA continued to operate from its sanctuaries and safe haven in Afghanistan for undertaking terrorism in Pakistan. He added that the Government of Afghanistan had not paid any heed to Pakistan's repeated calls to take action against the group and its activities based in the country. Aziz said that Pakistan has shared a list of suspected JuA terrorists with the Government of Afghanistan for action against them in this regard. Highlighting that terrorism was a common threat and its elimination required close cooperation, Aziz said it was important that Afghan government should take strong action against such elements. He also emphasized that cooperation between Afghanistan and Pakistan was vital for effectively combating the scourge of terrorism. Aziz said that effective border management was required to prevent the movement of terrorist elements across the border. Atmar on behalf of Afghan Government expressed condolences over the loss of lives in the recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan. (ANI)