Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of backing Taliban enemy
- 12 years ago
Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik tells Reuters that some parts of the Afghan government may be backing a senior Pakistani Taliban leader who is fighting to overthrow the Islamabad government.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, REHMAN MALIK, SAYING:
"I think some of the elements (of the Afghan government) there are supporters, yes, of course. I can't say that, but maybe state actors, maybe non-state actors."
Pakistani officials say the Taliban commander known as Fazlullah has been orchestrating raids on Pakistani security forces from Afghanistan.
Malik provided no evidence to support his assertion.
Afghan officials see Pakistan's suggestion that Afghans are supporting cross-border attacks as an attempt to distract attention from what they say is Pakistan's long history of supporting Afghanistan's Taliban movement and other insurgent factions.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PAKISTAN'S INTERIOR MINISTER, REHMAN MALIK, SAYING:
"I think some of the elements (of the Afghan government) there are supporters, yes, of course. I can't say that, but maybe state actors, maybe non-state actors."
Pakistani officials say the Taliban commander known as Fazlullah has been orchestrating raids on Pakistani security forces from Afghanistan.
Malik provided no evidence to support his assertion.
Afghan officials see Pakistan's suggestion that Afghans are supporting cross-border attacks as an attempt to distract attention from what they say is Pakistan's long history of supporting Afghanistan's Taliban movement and other insurgent factions.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters