News - Afghanistan

Head of Afghan government's media and information centre (GMIC) on Thursday said that Pakistan is a safe haven forterrorists and that Pakistani government supports militant networks.

It comes a day after a Nato report alleged that militant groups were directly being assisted by Pakistan's spy organisation, ISI.

"Afghanistan's stance has always been clear. It is a reality that the Taliban and al-Qaeda sanctuaries are based in Pakistan," Head of Afghan Government's Media and Information Centre, Hakim Asher, said.

Mr Asher said it is clear that militants are also received financial and military support on the other side of the Afghan border.

"They also received financial and military support there and this shows that they have the support of certain circles. This is crystal clear and there is no need to talk about it," Mr Asher added.

Pakistan has repeatedly been accused of fueling insurgency in Afghanistan. But Pakistan's Foreign Minister Hinna Rabbani Khar denied such allegations during an exclusive interview with TOLOnews on Wednesday.

Asked if she thought that the report showed US's lack of trust in Pakistan, Mrs Khar refused to comment.

"I don't want to talk about it. I think it unimportant. What should be asked is if the US will succeed in this war or not, and will Afghans win or not?" she said.

Meanwhile, some Afghan experts believe that Pakistan has never cooperated honestly with the Afghan government and that the country has always supported anti-government armed groups.

"Until Pakistan does not stop its support to anti-government armed groups, it will not be easy to bring peace and stability," Mohammad Asem, a member of the National Coalition of Afghanistan, said.

Experts believe that the main cause of tensions between Washington and Islamabad has been ISI's support to militant groups.