Pak envoy's remarks on Pulwama attack irrelevant: Afghanistan

Kabul has rejected as "irrelevant", the recent remarks by Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah, that tension between New Delhi and Islamabad could affect the Afghan peace process and said they were in contradiction with Pakistan's commitments with regards to realising peace in Afghanistan.

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs deems the recent remarks of the Pakistani Ambassador that Afghanistan peace talks would be affected if India resort to violence against Pakistan in response to last week's attack in Kashmir, as irrelevant and in contraction with Pakistan's commitments with regards to realizing peace in Afghanistan," the Afghanistan foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Kabul further asked Islamabad to act upon its commitments and asked it to not to make "irrelevant statements".

Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan on Tuesday claimed that tension between New Delhi and India could affect the Afghan-peace process.

"The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has always wanted a reduction in any tension in the region and the difference to be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. The government of the Islamic Republic Afghanistan once again calls on Pakistan to act upon its commitments with regards to Afghanistan particularly those in relation to peace and refrain from making irrelevant statements that do not help solve any problem," the foreign ministry said.

Notably, Khan's comment came in the wake of de-escalation of India and Pakistan relations after the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed by a Pakistan-sponsored JeM terrorist.