Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the Afghan Taliban attacked Pakistan on India's orders but the Pakistan army, led by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, gave a befitting reply. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, said the attack on Pakistan by Afghanistan was carried out on the instructions of India.

"When the attack was carried out, the Afghan Foreign Minister was in India, he added.  He said that a 48-hour ceasefire was declared on the request of the Afghan Taliban and the ball is now in the court of the Afghan Taliban.  He said a ceasefire is not accepted just to pass the time but the Afghan Taliban will have to take concrete steps to eliminate terrorism.

He said terrorists have been given a free hand in Afghanistan and Pakistan's forces had to respond to Afghan aggression. The Prime Minister said Pakistan's forces exercised the right to self-defence and gave a befitting reply to the Khawarij. He said friendly countries, especially Qatar, are trying to resolve this issue.  

He said Pakistan shares a two thousand kilometer border with Afghanistan and despite its limited resources, Pakistan has hosted four million Afghan citizens.  Shahbaz Sharif said Afghan terrorists are martyring the police, army personnel and civilians of Pakistan but we have maintained and perpetuated the relationship of brotherhood and will maintain the relationship of brotherhood with Afghanistan. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)