ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Monday rejected the allegation that military operation Khyber-IV was meant to push militants into Afghanistan.Responding to a media query regarding a statement attributed tothe governor of the Afghan province of Kunar, the Foreign OfficeSpokesperson underlined that such statements were contrary to thespirit and understanding arrived at during recent engagements at the leadership level of the two countries.
Such media headlines weremisleading and part of the malicious campaign, he added.Khyber-IV, he said, was part of the ongoing counter-terrorismoperation Radd-ul-Fasaad. Our security forces have achieved success in fighting back terrorists, he added.The political leadership of the two countries, the spokesperson said,had agreed that the two sides would coordinate and cooperate in theiraction to eradicate the menace of terrorism, which was a common challenge.He said the Afghan defence authorities were accordingly informed about the operation Khyber-IV. Terrorists fleeing the military action were tobe dealt with by Afghan security forces. “So far we have received nosupport from Afghanistan in operation Khyber IV,” he added.The spokesperson said effective border management was imperative tocurb cross-border movement of terrorists. Border management measures would facilitate movement of people, trade, and transit and would be instrumental in curtailing the activities of terrorists, drug and human smugglers and other undesired elements, he argued.