Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of threatening regional security

Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan Hassan, has accused Pakistan of being the primary threat to the security and stability of South Asia. Speaking at a security conference in Moscow attended by representatives from the CSTO, CIS, and SCO, Hassan alleged that Pakistan provides shelter to terrorist organizations, including ISIS, and facilitates drug trafficking.

Hassan claimed that Pakistan has attempted to infiltrate hundreds of insurgents into Afghanistan’s Badakhshan and Nuristan provinces on multiple occasions. He further alleged that the Pakistani military has engaged in aerial bombardments and artillery shelling against Afghan border posts during these infiltration attempts.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow views the current Afghan government as a reality that must be accepted and expressed support for regional security initiatives. Representatives from Tajikistan and Kazakhstan also emphasized the need for a stable, united Afghanistan and called for international support for the country’s economic reconstruction.