The blame game has started once again from certain Afghan politicians, accusing Pakistan for the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, the responsibility for which was claimed by Khorasan chapter of Daesh, also known as Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). "These accusations are totally baseless. The 'spoilers' of the Afghan peace could be behind such horrific attacks, targeting innocent civilians at a wedding", a diplomatic source said, adding that Pakistan's Foreign Office has already rubbished these accusations.
He pointed out that the latest spate of terrorism in Afghanistan resurfaced at a time when both Taliban and the US have made a 'significant' progress in the ongoing peace efforts in which Pakistan is playing a key role as facilitator. "Such accusations will not benefit any side. Pakistan and Afghanistan have mechanisms such as APAPPS [Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity] where such issues should be discussed and the two countries are discussing issues including cooperation against terrorism at such fora", he said.
On August 17, a suicide bomber targeted a wedding party in Kabul, killing at least 63 people and injuring 182 others. In a purported statement the Khorasan chapter of the Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack, and allegedly a suicide bomber, Abu Asim from Pakistan, carried out the attack.
This was followed by multiple terrorist attacks in Jalalabad on the eve of Afghanistan's Independence Day on August 19 in which several other people were killed.
Pakistan condemned both the Kabul carnage and the attacks in Jalalabad and reassured Afghanistan of continued support for restoration of peace and stability in war-torn Afghanistan.
"Pakistan remains a steadfast partner of Afghanistan, in the joint efforts to defeat all designs aimed at perpetuating instability in the region. We continue to firmly stand together with the Afghan nation in these testing times", said Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal while condemning these attacks.
"These cowardly attacks manifest the desperation of terrorist outfits and spoilers as hopes for peace, stability and national unity in Afghanistan have grown stronger by the day", the spokesperson added.
Earlier in a statement, the Foreign Office spokesperson categorically rejected reports in a section of the media, based on a reported ISIS claim of responsibility for the heinous terrorist attack on a wedding party in Kabul, implicating a Pakistani national.
"Pakistan rejects these baseless allegations. It is important for the media to discern the propaganda objectives of terrorist organisations aimed at creating misunderstandings", he added.
He further said that Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. "We have proactively and successfully taken action to uproot the scourge of terrorism. Pakistan will continue its efforts in the same spirit, in coordination with regional and international partners", he added.
Rahimullah Yusufzai, a senior analyst, pointed out that certain elements both within Afghanistan and the region are not happy with the possible peace agreement between the US and the Taliban, which is happening due to the important role of Pakistan.
He stated that these elements have also tried in the past to sabotage the peace process through such terrorist attacks, adding that it is illogical to blame Pakistan for these attacks when it is sincerely playing its role to facilitate the peace process.
Vice-presidential candidate and former Afghan intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh, whose office was recently targeted in Kabul, blamed Pakistan for the recent terror attacks.
"Backed by Pakistan, Taliban are the inventors of suicide bombings, sectarian violence & massacring of civilians in Afg [Afghanistan] just to weaken the state. Their denial of bombing of the wedding party last night doesn't cleanse the stinking stain from their forehead. They are terrorists", the former NDS chief said in a tweet in reaction to the August 17 attack in Kabul.
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