KABUL (SW): Taliban should not sacrifice them for the gains of Pakistan, Ahmad Zia Masoud, the Presidential Envoy said on Thursday as he addressed a gathering organized to express support for the security forces.
The confirmation of Mullah Omar (former Taliban Supreme Leader)’s death has sparked a debate in Afghanistan over the role of Pakistan in establishing and then using the Taliban for their benefits. In this context, Masoud expressed hope on Thursday Pakistan would play positive role in the peace talks.
He also urged upon the Taliban to realize that they have been used by Islamabad against Kabul. “Why did Mullah Omar vanished all of a sudden? Simply because Pakistani establishment concluded that he was no more useful in perusing their objectives”, he claimed.
Masoud lauded the sacrifices of the government forces in ensuring peace and sovereignty. “I expect every Afghan to support and honor our brave security forces”, he said.
Meanwhile, in neighboring Pakistan, a top religious party leader has announced his support for the new Taliban leader Mullah Mansoor and has warned the armed rebels against internal split. Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Samiul Haq said this as he was addressing religious leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan at the inaugural ceremony of the new education year at his Darul Uloom-i-Haqania (religious academic institution) on Wednesday.
“It is the need of the hour to stand united against foreign powers as they are hatching conspiracies against Afghan people who had rendered sacrifices of their lives for freeing their country from ‘foreign occupation’, Pakistan Today quoted his saying.
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