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Pakistan rejects reports of Ghazni attackers' medical treatment

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Aug 18, IRNA -- Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson has strongly rejected reports alleging that some Taliban fighters involved in Afghanistan's Ghazni attack were offered medical treatment in Pakistani hospitals.

In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson said Afghanistan has not officially shared any information or evidence with Pakistan in this regard.

He added that in the absence of official communications through regular channels established bilaterally, such reports cannot be given any credence.

The official noted such reports could only be viewed as malicious propaganda to vitiate the existing cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa has rejected allegations that Ghazni attack was supported by elements from Pakistan and asked Kabul to look inwards for the causes.

"COAS reiterates that there is no support to any terrorist activity inside Afghanistan from Pakistan side," army media wing ISPR said in a statement.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had earlier in the day asked General Bajwa to live up to his promise of addressing allegations of cross-border support for Taliban as he added his voice to those alleging role of Pakistani citizens in the Taliban attack on Ghazni city last week.

Rejecting images circulating on social media of allegedly wounded fighters being carried across the border, the ISPR statement noted that "there are scores of Pakistanis working in Afghanistan in connection with various businesses/labour who periodically fall victim to terrorism acts alongside their Afghan brothers inside Afghanistan. Terming such victims as terrorists is unfortunate".

"Moreover, different factions of TTP, hiding in many sanctuaries inside Afghanistan under Afghan identities on becoming injured/dead are transported into Pakistan for medical help. Additionally, Afghan refugees and their relatives also resort to similar practices," it further said.

"COAS stands by his commitment to Afghan President for ensuring all measures which could facilitate peace in Afghanistan. However, COAS re-emphasises that Afghanistan needs to look inward as the problem resides inside Afghanistan. The solution thus remains on making substantive progress on Afghan reconciliation efforts as well as on speedy implementation of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS)," the statement said.

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