General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has called on Pakistan to stop harboring militant groups including the Taliban.
He said that moves to weaken Afghanistan by anyone is unacceptable to the international community particularly the U.S.
Nicholson made the remarks a day after President Ashraf Ghani announced that the current undeclared war against Afghanistan has been changed into a declared war, predicting tough times ahead for Afghan security forces.
“We need full preparation because the current war situation has changed from an undeclared war to a declared war,” Ghani said?
“If last year was the year of survival and the current year was the year of integrated defense then what will be the next year? It will be the year of fundamental mobility and what will be our aim until 2019? Creating conditions for success,” Ghani added.
Analysts suggest that the shift in US and other western countries’ Pakistan policy indicates that they have gotten to the bottom of Pakistan’s counter-terror strategy.
“Pakistan is moving toward isolation, the United States seems to be very tired and wants to say the final word to Pakistan and that is ask Pakistan to take serious actions against terrorism,” said MP Iqbal Safai.
The Afghan government has constantly blamed Pakistan for its role in the ongoing insurgency in Afghanistan which has rattled the peace and stability of the country.
The comments are made at a time that currently the Afghan security forces are battling insurgents on multiple fronts across the country – with the Afghan government accusing Pakistan of fueling the war in Afghanistan.
“There should not be further doubt in the world that terror hideouts exist on Pakistani soil, unfortunately no action was taken in this respect from the Pakistani side against terrorism,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for Ministry of Interior (MoI)
Amid the controversy over the role of Pakistan in the war against terrorism, there are some reports that indicate Pakistan has been trying to put pressure on the Taliban to consider a role for Islamabad in the peace negotiation process with Kabul.
Sources have said that Pakistan has warned it will expel leaders of the Afghan Taliban and their families from that country if a role in the peace process is not given to Islamabad.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/28132-nicholson-calls-on-pakistan-to-stop-supporting-militants
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