Pakistan strongly condemned the latest terrorist attack in Kabul and urged all the parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace and stability in Afghanistan. Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, while commenting on the latest terrorist attack in Kabul, stated that Pakistan had consistently supported a negotiated political solution of the Afghan conflict.
"This is a historic juncture. Pakistan urges all the parties to work together in a constructive spirit for establishing durable peace and stability in Afghanistan," she said, while referring to the peace agreement signed between United States and Afghan Taliban in Doha on February 29, 2020.
She said that Pakistan strongly condemned the attack, which resulted in loss of several precious lives and injuries to many others. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have suffered in this tragedy...We are relieved that the leadership has remained unharmed," she added.
The terrorist attack in the Afghan capital comes days after the US and Taliban inked a historic peace deal in which a political gathering was targeted.
Senior Afghan leader Abdullah Abdullah, who was among many other politicians in the attendance of the gathering to mark the death anniversary of Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari, remained unharmed.Afghan Taliban distanced itself from the latest attack, as the group's official spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid issued a clarification on the twitter, saying that the attack in Kabul on the gathering has no linkages with the Taliban.
Meanwhile, the Taliban also announced that they are ready for the intra-Afghan dialogue on March 10, if the prisoners as agreed in the peace deal are freed.
"If the provisions of the agreements are implemented and prisoners are released, the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] is prepared for intra-Afghan negotiations on March 10. Our negotiation team and agenda are ready and will go ahead as agreed," said Suhail Shaheen, the spokesperson for the Taliban's political office in Doha.
He also warned that "if the intra-Afghan negotiations are delayed beyond the stated date, the responsibility will rest with the others."
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has recently stated that there is no commitment to releasing 5,000 Taliban prisoners. However, as per the US-Taliban peace deal, the US has expressed its commitment to immediately start work with all relevant sides on a plan to expeditiously release combat and political prisoners as a confidence building measure with the coordination and approval of all relevant sides.
Up to 5,000 prisoners of the Taliban and up to 1,000 prisoners of the other side was agreed to be released by March 10, 2020, the first day of intra-Afghan negotiations.