UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan on Thursday emphatically rejected Afghanistan’s allegations that terrorist sanctuaries exist in Pakistan and said that terrorism was a threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan and therefore both countries should work together to eliminate this scourge.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khan chided the Afghan envoy Tannin for levelling accusations against Pakistan. “By using such arguments, you cast aspersions on our sincerity. In Pakistan, we do not operate as elements, but as a whole, as one state.”

Mr Khan said that “many attacks against Pakistan are planned on Afghan soil. That is why we need more aggressive policing and surveillance of the border. This will also help stop the shelling. We must not allow terrorists to manipulate and divide the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan”.

He told the Security Council: “This kind of contentious polemic is disingenuous, as Pakistan and Afghanistan communicate through multiple political, military channels to address all bilateral issues.”

Mr Khan said: “We must build political trust.” He pointed out that a joint commission headed by Pakistan’s prime minister and the president of Afghanistan, was he best forum for pursuing this objective.’