Islamabad asks Afghanistan to eliminate 'safe heavens' of Pakistani militants

Pakistan expressed concern over what it called "continued presence of safe havens" of Pakistani Taliban militants in Afghanistan's Kunar and Nooristan provinces and urged Afghan the government to eliminate their hideouts. The Pakistani military said that the members of Tehrik-e- Taliban Pakistan or TTP have fled to Afghanistan and are now operating from there and routinely launch attacks on Pakistani border posts and villages. The Afghan government last month arrested Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader, in eastern Ningarahar province and later rejected a request to hand him over to Pakistan on grounds that the two countries do not have an extradition treaty. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said Pakistani militants are carrying out undesirable activities against Pakistan. "Pakistan has taken up the matter many times with Afghanistan at all levels and hoped that these safe havens of TTP would be eliminated," the spokesman told a weekly press briefing. He said that the presence of safe havens in Afghanistan is a serious matter but Pakistan would remain in cooperative mode as this is best way to defeat the evil forces. Commenting on recent statements of Afghan president and deputy foreign minister about Pakistan's failure to play a role in Afghan peace, the spokesman said both sides have concerns and Pakistan believes that the best way to remove concerns and misunderstandings is to keep all channels of communication open. "Pakistan is following a policy of goodwill towards Afghanistan and wants its reflection in Afghan policy as well," he said. The spokesman emphasized that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work together in harmony to promote peace not only in Afghanistan but also in the whole region.