Pak-Afghan accord to eliminate militant sanctuaries ‘wherever they are’

KABUL - Pakistan and Afghanistan have renewed their commitment to eliminate militant sanctuaries in their territories, which can be used for acts of subversion in either country.

A joint declaration issued at the end of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s two-day visit to Kabul said both countries would again undertake to effectively cooperate, combat and defeat these (terrorist) threats and eliminate their sanctuaries ‘wherever they are’.

“Terrorism and violent extremism and their international support networks are a major threat undermining peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the Dawn quoted the joint declaration, as saying.

The commitment came as a result of the fresh Pakistani demand that the Afghan government should end Baloch insurgent infrastructure on its soil, and hand over nationalist leaders, including Brahmdagh Bugti, who are believed to have taken refuge there.

On Saturday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai had pledged in his meeting with Gilani to end Balochistan insurgency bases in Afghanistan which, he claimed, could have been operating without his knowledge.

But, he told the delegation that he also expected Pakistan to end the Taliban safe havens in FATA that have long been alleged to foment violence in Afghanistan.

Reiterating cooperation for collectively fighting terror, Karzai said: “We need to work together to end violence that continues to hurt both of us and that we should help each other with full knowledge of reality.”

The commitment is not exactly new, but what is different this time is the newfound understanding between the two sides that peace and stability in their countries were mutually interdependent. (ANI)