Pakistan rejects Afghan VP's allegations for providing air support to Taliban

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday strongly rejected accusations of Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh who accuse Pakistan for providing air support to the Taliban.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) clarified that the PAF had never communicated anything to the Afghan Air Force, adding that such statements undermine Pakistan's sincere efforts for an Afghan-owned and led solution.

The FO further clarified that the Afghan side conveyed to Pakistani authorities their intentions to carry out an air operation in its territory, which is opposite to the Chaman sector in Pakistan.

"We acknowledge Afghan Government’s right to undertake actions on its sovereign territory," stressed the Foreign Office.

"Pakistan responded positively to Afghan Government’s right to act in its territory. In spite of very close border operations normally not acceded to by internationally accepted norms/standards/procedures, Pakistan took necessary measures within its territory to safeguard our own troops and population," added the FO.

The MoFA also clarified that recently, Pakistan rescued 40 Afghan National and Defence Security Forces (ANDSF) "with a declared offer to ANDSF to provide all logistical support as requested".

Pakistan said it remained committed to peace in Afghanistan "irrespective of the detractors".