ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said on Saturday Kabul wants to resolve tensions with Pakistan through dialogue and has taken “serious measures” to ensure its territory is not used against its neighbor, amid the worst fighting between the two countries in decades.
In a telephone call with the United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Muttaqi said disputes with Pakistan should be addressed through mutual understanding while reaffirming Kabul’s position on cross-border security.
The two countries have been locked in their worst fighting in decades, with Islamabad accusing the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants responsible for cross-border attacks, a charge Kabul denies.
Pakistan has carried out aerial strikes deep inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul, with officials in Islamabad saying more than 700 militants and Afghan Taliban officials have been killed since the beginning of their campaign last month.
“As a neighbor, Afghanistan wants to resolve issues with Pakistan through dialogue and mutual understanding,” Muttaqi was quoted as saying in a press release circulated by the Afghan foreign ministry.
He added that “no one will be allowed to use Afghan territory against Pakistan, and serious measures have been taken in this regard.”
Muttaqi maintained all of Afghanistan’s military actions against Pakistan were defensive, adding that it reserved the right to self-defense.
The UAE deputy prime minister also said tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan were not in the interest of any side and affirmed that his country would continue efforts to help resolve the issues, according to the statement
