ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Monday it had conveyed its “serious concerns” to Afghanistan over what it called “irresponsible statements and baseless allegations made by the Afghan leadership.”
The statement from the foreign office was a veiled reference to an interview last week by President Ashraf Ghani in which he said Pakistan operated “an organized system of support” for the Afghan Taliban.
“Pakistan has emphasized that groundless accusations erode trust and vitiate the environment between the two brotherly countries and disregard constructive role being played by Pakistan in facilitating the Afghan peace process,” the foreign office said. “The Afghan side has been urged to effectively utilize the available forums like Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) to address all bilateral issues.”
The Kabul government and Taliban representatives began negotiations in September last year to find a way to end decades of war. But the talks stalled after a few rounds and violence has escalated since the United States started a final pullout of troops from Afghanistan on May 1.
Afghanistan and the United States are both relying on what they say is Pakistan’s ‘influence’ over the Taliban to keep the insurgent group engaged in peace talks.
“Pakistan operates an organized system of support. The Taliban receive logistics there, their finances are there and recruitment is there,” Ghani said in an interview to Der Spiegel on May 14. “The names of the various decision-making bodies of the Taliban are Quetta Shoura, Miramshah Shoura and Peshawar Shoura – named after the Pakistani cities where they are located. There is a deep relationship with the state.”
Pakistan expresses ‘serious concern’ days after Ghani alleges Taliban’s ‘deep’ ties with Islamabad
https://arab.news/6a94p
Pakistan expresses ‘serious concern’ days after Ghani alleges Taliban’s ‘deep’ ties with Islamabad
- Foreign office says groundless accusations erode trust, disregard constructive role being by Pakistan in facilitating Afghan peace
- In May 14 interview, Afghan president Ghani said Pakistan operates “organized system of support” for Afghan Taliban
Thousands rally in Karachi after deadly mall fire, demand resignations and reforms
- Protesters cite fire that killed at least 67, blame civic failures, weak emergency response
- Rally adds pressure on Sindh’s ruling party amid anger over infrastructure and utilities
KARACHI: Thousands rallied in Karachi on Sunday demanding the resignations of local officials and systemic reforms following a devastating shopping mall fire that killed dozens last month.
The demonstration underscored deepening public anger over civic failures in Pakistan’s largest city.
Approximately 4,000 people marched under the slogan “Enough is enough” in a rally organized by the political Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
Demonstrators cited chronic water and power shortages, poor emergency services, and crumbling infrastructure as key grievances.
The blaze at the Gul Plaza Shopping Mall in January, which left at least 67 dead and over 15 missing, has intensified scrutiny of the city’s disaster preparedness and governance.
The protest’s main speaker, Jamaat e Islami’s Karachi chief Munim Zafar, demanded immediate compensation for the victims’ families and affected businesses. He also accused the city’s administration of failing to provide basic utilities and competent emergency services.
“Our demand is clear: compensation for the families of those who died in the Gul Plaza incident, and compensation for the traders who suffered losses. They should be given alternative support to help them rebuild their businesses,” Zafar said.
He said Karachi’s residents were being denied basic services and protection, calling for the resignations of senior city and provincial officials:
“The people of Karachi deserve to live with dignity, but you’re not providing them with basic necessities like water and electricity. When there’s a fire, you’re incapable of rescue, and when it rains, the city is flooded. Our infrastructure is in shambles ... Karachi needs an empowered local government system.”
The protest increases political pressure on the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which governs Sindh province and Karachi.
City and provincial authorities have previously pointed to rapid urbanization and funding limits when addressing infrastructure issues.
The offices of Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and the Sindh government did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment on demonstrators’ requests.
