COAS off to Kabul to meet President Ashraf Ghani, others

Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the Defence Day event on Sept 6 at GHQ, Rawalpindi this year. Photo: File RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa left for Kabul on Sunday, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army's media wing. Gen Bajwa will hold a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other senior civilian and military officials during the day-long visit, the army said further. The two countries often trade accusations of fomenting militancy and terrorism within each other's borders, as well as cross-border attacks. Pakistan blames Afghanistan for hosting several terrorist groups that use its soil against Pakistan, and vice versa. Last week, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan cannot take responsibility for peace and security in Afghanistan, adding that effective border management with Afghanistan is imperative to stop infiltration of terrorists. Pakistan cannot take responsibility for peace, security in Afghanistan: Asif The minister blamed India for carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan through Afghanistan Speaking at the Asia Society seminar in New York on Wednesday, the minister said the US cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war. Asif said that no one desires peace in Afghanistan more than Pakistan, but that a number of Afghan leaders want to continue status quo for their vested interests. The minister blamed India for carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan through Afghanistan, saying that more than 66 terrorist organisations are active inside India. Pakistan, US, Afghanistan express commitment to eliminate Daesh According to the ISPR, Pakistan and Afghanistan also held bilateral military cooperation meetings Around two weeks ago, at a tripartite forum, officials of the US, Afghanistan and Pakistan expressed their commitment to eliminate Daesh from the region. At the meeting held in Kabul, they agreed on information sharing, complementary efforts and enhanced cooperation, according to the ISPR. Moreover, on the sidelines of the tripartite meeting, the Pak-Afghan military delegations held a bilateral meeting and discussed cross-border attacks, counter-terrorism, coordinated actions on the respective sides along the border and exchange of detainees.