Pakistan FO summons deputy Afghan envoy, flags concern over terrorist sanctuaries

Islamabad [Pakistan], Feb.16 (ANI): Pakistan's Foreign Office summoned Afghanistan's deputy envoy Syed Abdul Nasir Yousafi on Wednesday to flag its concern and protest over the use of his country for launching terrorist attacks in Pakistan. According to the Dawn, a specific mention was made of the recent terror attack launched by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, an offshoot of the Taliban, in Lahore, which claimed 13 lives and injured many others. "Attention of the DHM was also drawn to the earlier actionable intelligence shared by our authorities with the Afghan side. Afghanistan was urged to take urgent measures to eliminate the terrorists and their sanctuaries, financiers and handlers operating from its territory," a statement by the FO spokesman said. The Afghan diplomat was given a demarche containing details of the recent terrorist attacks and supporting information. "Terrorism emanating (from) within the country or executed and harboured from outside the country would be eliminated and those posing threat to peace and security of the country would be liquidated by the might of the state," said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting. The statement did not elaborate what actions had been agreed and only expressed the resolve for complete "physical and ideological annihilation" of terrorism and extremism. (ANI)