‘Many terror groups in S. Asia responsible for extreme acts’

islamabad — Pakistan has condemned the presence of Daesh and the outlawed Pakistani Taleban in “ungoverned spaces” inside neighbouring Afghanistan.

Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Pakistan is “seriously concerned” about the threat posed by terrorism and extremism in the South Asian region. Zakaria was speaking in reference to the Brics leaders’ summit document which named militant groups allegedly based in Pakistan as a regional security concern.

“Many terrorist groups based in the region — including in Afghanistan

We are concerned at the presence of (banned) groups, like daesh and east Turkestan Islamic movement in ungoverned spaces in afghanistan Nafees Zakaria, foreign office spokesman

— such as the [banned] Tehreek-i-Taleban Pakistan and its associates like Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) have been responsible for extreme acts of violence against Pakistani people,” Zakaria said.

“We are deeply concerned at the presence of groups, like Daesh, East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, in the ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan as they pose a threat to peace and security in the region.”

Zakaria further said that Pakistan is concerned about the rise of extremist ideologies and intolerance in the region, which have been “encouraging social stratification and systematic targeting of minorities”.

The United States has been calling on Pakistan to do more to tackle alleged Haqqani network sanctuaries on the Pakistani side of the Afghan border, or it might cut military aid. —