*RAWALPINDI – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa hasexpressed deep concern on the recent surge in violence inside Afghanistanand loss of precious innocent lives, said a statement issued byInter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) late on Friday.*

The COAS reiterates; “There is no support to any terrorist activity insideAfghanistan from Pakistan side. The alleged return of injured/deadterrorists from Ghazni is incorrect.”

General Bajwa, according to the ISPR, further mentioned; “There are scoresof Pakistanis working in Afghanistan in connection with variousbusinesses/labour who periodically fall victim to terrorism acts alongsidetheir Afghan brothers inside Afghanistan. Terming such victims asterrorists is unfortunate.”

Moreover, Army Chief highlighted that there are different factions ofTehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), hiding under Afghan identities, “aretransported into Pakistan for medical help when they are injured/ dead”.

He added that Afghan refugees and their relatives also resort to similarpractices.

Gen Bajwa, according to the statement, stands by his commitment to AfghanPresident for ensuring all measures, which could facilitate peace inAfghanistan. COAS re-emphasizsed that Afghanistan needs to look inward asthe problem resides inside Afghanistan.

The solution thus remains on making substantive progress on Afghanreconciliation efforts as well as on speedy implementation of AfghanistanPakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS), said a statement.

“Pakistan continues to support all initiatives aimed at bringing peace inAfghanistan as there cannot be enduring peace in Pakistan and stability inthe region if there is no peace in Afghanistan,” it added.