Pakistan, Afghanistan to fight 'common enemy' together, says Army Chief

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Monday that enhanced security arrangements along the Afghanistan border were to fight the common enemy of the two neighbouring countries.

According to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) while chairing a high-level meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) said terrorists of all hue and colour will be defeated with the concerted bilateral efforts.

General Bajwa added that Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and shall continue in this effort together.

The Army Chief directed for more effective border coordination and cooperation with Afghan Security Forces to prevent cross-border movement of terrorists including all types of illegal movement.

The COAS also welcomed recent proposals from Afghan authorities to take forward the mutual coordination for result oriented efforts against terrorism.

Security along the Pak-Afghan border has been heightened as the Pakistan Army has reportedly moved heavy artillery including tanks on the Torkham border.

The border with Afghanistan was closed before the Pakistan Army pounded militant hideouts inside Afghanistan last week and killed militants belonging to Jamaat ul Ahrar in the aftermath of a deadly suicide bombing at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar last week.

Officials from the Afghan Embassy were also summoned to Pakistan's Army Headquarters, GHQ where they were handed a list of 76 terrorists so action can be taken against them or they be handed over if the Afghan government cannot act against them.