Pakistan reassures Afghanistan of full support for peace process following Kabul diatribe

The Foreign Office has said Pakistan is committed to assisting reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan, despite an attack unleashed by the Afghan government.

Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said that Pakistan will not be deterred in its efforts to support the international community's efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, while responding to allegations by Afghan army chief General Sher Mohammad Karimi that Pakistan controlled the Taliban.

The Dawn News reports that Pakistan's ties with the Afghan government have been on the downturn since the start of this year.

According to the report, Pakistan has been involved with the process of reconciliation for over 18 months now.

It further added that the real activity started with the release of Taliban prisoners and subsequent provision of safe passage to the insurgents willing to join the 'Doha process'.

Pakistani officials said that the Afghan leaders vented their frustration by launching malicious attacks against them and raising unnecessary controversies.

Chaudhry said that Pakistan has exercised extreme restraint in the face of highly provocative language used by the Afghan civil and military officials over the past few months.

Choudhary said Pakistan had begun helping the reconciliation process on the request of the Afghan leadership.