ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Pakistan has approached the United Nations relief agencies to verify the number of Pakistanis killed in Afghanistan in action.

Foreign Office Spokesman Aziz Khan told at the daily press briefing on Thursday that since Pakistan had no presence inside Afghanistan, it had asked the UN agencies, who are planning to move in, to verify the number of Pakistanis killed in recent fighting.

ISPR chief Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi allayed the concern about the security on the western borders after the takeover of Kabul by the Northern Alliance, saying there was no movement southwards.

In some Pakhtoon-dominated areas, he said, local tribal elders and commanders had risen against the Taliban and taken over those towns and cities.

As regards the possibility of some Taliban or members of Al Qaeda crossing over into Pakistan, the ISPR chief said that security had already been beefed up to prevent any unauthorized crossing into the country. Nobody without having valid documents would be allowed to enter Pakistan, he declared.

In reply to a question whether the fall of Kabul would hamper the process of setting up a broad-based government, the FO spokesman said that international community as well as the Six-plus-Two group had called for the broad-based government.

He pointed out that the United Nations Security Council had adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a broad-based, multi-ethnic government in Afghanistan.

He read out some portions of the resolution in which it had expressed strong support for the efforts of Afghan people for the establishment of a transitional government leading to a permanent setup.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.