Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa reiterated onFriday that Islamabad had no favourites in Afghanistan.
He was talking to US chargé d’affaires Angela Ageler at the GeneralHeadquarters of the Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi a day after bomb explosionsrocked the Kabul airport, leaving dozens dead, including US troops.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), matters of mutualinterest, regional security and the evolving situation in Afghanistan werediscussed in detail during the meeting.
The army chief told the US ambassador, “Pakistan has no favourites inAfghanistan and our sole aim is helping achieve peaceful, sovereign,stable, and prosperous Afghanistan.”
Condemning the terrorist attacks at Kabul airport and expressing sorrowover the loss of precious lives, he reiterated the combined resolve tofight terrorism and extremism to the core.
The US diplomat praised Pakistan’s efforts in promoting regional peace andstability and thanked the army chief for the special assistance in theevacuation operations from Kabul, the military’s media wing added.
Earlier, ISPR Director-General Major General Babar Iftikhar addressed animportant press briefing on the Afghanistan issue, saying “something canhappen” at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border but “we are ready” for all sortsof situations.
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Speaking about the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border from amilitary perspective, he said that the situation on the ground inAfghanistan changed rapidly — against all expectations, in reference to theswift takeover of the country by Taliban forces, which culminated in thegroup entering Kabul on August 15.
In Afghanistan, US forces trying to evacuate Afghans desperate to flee thenew Taliban rule were on alert for more attacks on Friday after the Daeshattack just outside the Kabul airport.
The Pentagon said on Friday the attack was carried out by one suicidebomber, not two as earlier thought.
US President Joe Biden is facing strong criticism at home and abroad forthe chaos surrounding the troop withdrawal that led to the Taliban’slightning advance to Kabul.
