Pakistan categorically rejects Afghan allegations of existence of terror sanctuaries in country

Pakistan has categorically rejected Afghanistan's accusation that terrorist sanctuaries exist on Pakistani soil.

The denial from Pakistan was made in the United Nations Security Council, reiterating peace and stability in Afghanistan is a key constituent of Islamabad's foreign policy.

Pakistan's permanent Ambassador to the UN Masood Khan rejected emphatically Afghan Ambassador (Zahir) Tanin's argument that terrorist sanctuaries exist in Pakistan and some elements continue to use terrorism as an instrument of foreign policy.

Khan was speaking during the 15-member Council's debate on the report of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

According to the Express Tribune, Khan said that Pakistan operated as one where all institutions of the state have consensus that terrorism is a threat to both Pakistan and Afghanistan and therefore both countries should work together to eliminate this scourge.

He said that peace and stability in Afghanistan is a key constituent of Pakistan's foreign policy, which is supported by all state institutions.

The ambassador insisted that success of the policy requires reciprocity, trust and goodwill.

Earlier, Tanin had spoken about continued acts of terrorism in his country, saying the people of Afghanistan were still the main victims of this heinous that continued to exist in Pakistan, the report added.