News / Asia

Pakistan to Afghanistan: Stop 'Playing Politics'

Supporters of the slain former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani shout slogans and hold up his portrait during a protest against the Taliban and Pakistan in Kabul, September 27, 2011.
Supporters of the slain former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani shout slogans and hold up his portrait during a protest against the Taliban and Pakistan in Kabul, September 27, 2011.
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Pakistan is calling on Afghanistan to refrain from "playing politics" following Afghan allegations of Pakistani involvement in recent high-profile attacks.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency has said that the assassination of the country's top peace envoy, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was planned in Pakistan and carried out by a Pakistani citizen.  

Islamabad has denied the allegations and offered to cooperate with the probe of Rabbani's killing.  On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua urged Afghanistan to stop making such accusations.

She told reporters in Islamabad that Afghan officials should demonstrate "maturity and responsibility" and refrain from political grandstanding.

The foreign office ministry spokeswoman also said the Pakistani government was closely studying the strategic pact Afghanistan signed this week with Islamabad's archenemy, India.

The deal looks to boost security and economic ties between both nations, with India agreeing to help train Afghan forces.

Janjua said Thursday that any such deal should take into account the fundamental principle of ensuring stability in the region.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Wednesday that both India and Afghanistan are sovereign countries and have the right to do what they want.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed the agreement with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his two-day trip to New Delhi that ended on Wednesday.

The Afghan leader tried to reassure Pakistan on the deal, referring to India as a friend and Pakistan as a "twin brother."

On Thursday, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said India is seeking to create an "anti-Pakistan" Afghanistan, in order to dominate the region and weaken Pakistan.

Mr. Musharraf told a forum in Washington that Afghanistan sends its diplomats and security forces to India for training, but has never sent an official to Pakistan despite an offer of free training. The former president said Afghan diplomats, soldiers, and intelligence officers are "indoctrinated against Pakistan's interests."

Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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