Afghanistan, Pakistan to conduct anti-terror ops

Pakistan’s National Security and Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz said the two countries have agreed to carry out coordinated operations against terrorists along the common border.

The two countries have also agreed not to let anyone use their soil against each other, he told reporters here. His remarks came after Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited Kabul on Wednesday.

Sharif met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and ISAF commander General Joseph Dunford to seek support against militants allegedly hiding in Afghanistan.

Aziz said the Afghan leadership assured full co-operation in countering terrorism. However, he ruled out joint operation with the Afghan army and said only coordinated actions would be taken against militants.

Pakistan is the country worst affected by terrorism in the world, he said, adding that it is looking for Afghan cooperation against Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah and other leaders allegedly hiding in Kunar province of Afghanistan.

China, meanwhile, has said it would also like to have more cooperation with the Pakistani armed forces to combat terrorism.

Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, visited the Pakistani embassy in Beijing Friday and strongly condemned the attack.

Pakistan forces killed 28 militants Saturday in the restive north-western tribal region, intensifying the campaign against them.

A security official Saturday said jet fighters targeted militants in Tirah valley of Khyber, which killed 21 militants and destroyed their seven hideouts.

Private TV channels reported that Peshawar attack “mastermind” Umer Naray was also killed in the attack but wasn’t confirmed.

An anti-terrorism court meanwhile issued non-bailable arrest warrants against eight persons, including Fazlullah, for the brazen militant assault on Karachi airport in June.