Kabul turns down request to hand over Farooqi

Afghanistan has turned down Pakistan's request to hand over Aslam Farooqi, a terrorist leader of the ISIS-Khorasan, for being involved in anti-Pakistan activities, and instead insisted that in the absence of any extradition treaty between the two countries, Farooqi will be tried under Afghanistan's laws for his involvement in terror activities.

Afghan Foreign Affairs Ministry's responded to Pakistan's earlier request on April 9 when the Afghan ambassador in Islamabad was summoned to the Foreign Office, and was handed over Islamabad's formal request to hand over Farooqi, who is wanted to the country for his anti-Pakistan activities from Afghanistan.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan has received the official communication from Pakistan in which it has requested handing over of Aslam Farooqi. Farooqi is leader of the ISIS-K, which has committed numerous crimes and involved killings of many Afghans and security forces of the country," the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said in a Pashto-language statement through a series of tweets.

"Afghanistan does not discriminate between terrorists and treat them alike...since, there is no agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan on extradition of the criminals, Aslam Farooqi will be treated according to the laws of Afghanistan," the spokesman added.

He further said that the two countries could make joint efforts through exchange of information under the platform of Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), which would help fight terrorism.

Earlier on April 9, Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said that the ambassador of Afghanistan to Pakistan was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conveyed Pakistan's views with regard to the arrest of ISIS-K leader, Aslam Farooqi, by the Afghan authorities on April 5, 2020.

"It was underscored to the ambassador that since Aslam Farooqi was involved in anti-Pakistan activities in Afghanistan, he should be handed-over to Pakistan for further investigations," she said, adding that it was also emphasised that Pakistan had been expressing its concerns over the activities of this group, which were clearly detrimental to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Taliban and the commander of US forces in Afghanistan General Scott Miller have exchanged views in Doha on the reduction of violence in Afghanistan and implementation on US-Taliban peace deal, which was signed on February 29, 2020.

"A political office delegation met in Doha with General S Miller and his delegation on Friday evening, discussing in details the implementation of the agreement as well as its violations, particularly, attacks and night raids in non-combat areas came under serious discussion," said Suhail Shaheen, spokesperson for Taliban's Doha political office in a tweet.

He further said that the delegation of the Taliban's political office called for a halt to such attacks.