Islamabad, July 16, 2021 (PPI-OT):Foreign Office has strongly rejected the allegations of Afghanistan’s Vice President Amrullah Saleh against the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) trying to help the Taliban. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said the Pakistan Air Force never communicated anything to the Afghan Air Force.

Giving the background of the situation, the Spokesperson said the Afghan side conveyed to Pakistan the intention of carrying out air operations inside its territory opposite the Chaman Sector of Pakistan. He said Pakistan responded positively to the Afghan government’s right to act in its territory. In spite of very close border operations normally not acceded to by internationally accepted norms and standards, Pakistan took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard its own troops and population.

Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said Pakistan acknowledged the Afghan government’s right to undertake actions on its sovereign territory. The spokesperson said Pakistan remains committed to peace in Afghanistan and shall continue its endeavors towards this end irrespective of the detractors.

Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said it is however important that at this critical juncture, all energies are focused on achieving an inclusive, broad based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan. Earlier, the Afghan vice president accused the PAF of warning Afghan security forces that it would retaliate against any move to dislodge Taliban fighters in the strategic border region of Spin Boldak.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk