Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi accomplice of Taliban, Afghan NSA

Kabul/Islamabad – Afghanistan is accusing that the Taliban, responsible for the instability in the country, has safe havens in Pakistan. But Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said there are no safe havens for the Taliban in the country and gave a clean chit to the Taliban, saying that the violence in Afghanistan is being perpetrated by Islamic State (IS). Afghan National Security Advisor (NSA), Hamdullah Mohib, showered severe criticism on the statements of Foreign Minister Qureshi. Mohib accused that the Pakistan Foreign Minister is either not informed or careless or maybe is an accomplice of the Taliban.

Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, gave an interview to an Afghan news agency. The Afghan interviewers made direct allegations like, ‘Pakistan is responsible for the instability and increasing Taliban attacks in Afghanistan. The prominent Taliban leaders are sitting in Pakistan. Major Taliban terrorist outfits, Quetta Shura and Peshawar Shura, have their bases at Quetta in Balochistan and Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in Pakistan. Taliban are funded from Pakistan.’ The concerned interviewers reminded of the video showing money being collected for the Taliban in a place of worship in Lahore in Pakistan.

But Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi denied all these allegations. Qureshi rejected the accusation of Taliban safe havens, saying, ‘We have been listening to the same thing since the last ten years. But there are no Taliban bases in Pakistan. The Afghans are digging up the old graves, and they should give it up now.’ Whereas, Qureshi absolved the Taliban of the accusations saying, ‘Taliban should not be held responsible for every terror attack in Afghanistan. The IS terrorists are carrying out attacks in Afghanistan.’

Afghan NSA, Hamdullah Mohib, attacked the statements made by Qureshi. Mohib retorted, ‘Qureshi, who is denying the presence of Taliban safe havens in Pakistan, possibly is not informed or is careless or is an accomplice of Taliban. Qureshi will also claim that Osama Bin Laden, who was killed near the Pakistan military headquarters, was not in Pakistan.’ A few days ago, Afghan NSA Mohib had accused that Pakistan is a brothel of terrorists. Qureshi was furious with the remark and had lashed out at Mohib.