**WSHERA: Afghan Ambassador Dr Omar Zakhilwal on Wednesday said that his country was **t pursuing a policy of interference in the border areas of Pakistan. Talking to reporters at the opening of the UNHCR’s voluntary repatriation centre for Afghan refugees in Azakhel, he maintained that the reports about the cross-border attacks in Mohmand and Bajaur tribal regions from Afghanistan’s territory weren’t true.
“Afghanistan is in a state of war and it would **t pursue a policy of interference in Pakistan,” he said, asking the media to refrain from spreading propaganda. Pointing out that Afghanistan had friendly relations with India, he argued that Pak-Afghan relations should **t be compared with Pak-India relations.
“We want good relations with all neighbours. Afghanistan should **t be termed as an enemy for having friendly relations with India,” he argued. He said that Pakistan was Afghanistan’s strategic partner and brotherly Islamic country. He said Pakistan provided shelter to Afghans for 37 years and this was something unprecedented. He maintained that Afghan refugees were **t forced to leave Pakistan. He expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees. About Afghanistan’s refusal to participate in the forthcoming SAARC conference in Pakistan following India’s lead, he said that Afghanistan was **t an important member of SAARC.
However, he rejected the reports that his country had boycotted the SAARC summit in Islamabad. He said that tension between Pakistan and India was **t favourable for peace in the region.
09-29-2016, 03:51 AM
Afghanistan **t behind cross-border attacks: envoy
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