Afghan President expresses concern over violence by Pakistani forces against Pashtuns, Balochs

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences.”

Pakistan government has been resorting to violence to crush protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region.

"The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan," Ghani tweeted.

“We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise, there could be long-standing negative consequences,” Ghani tweeted.

Pakistan has been carrying out oppressive activities against ethnic Pashtuns, who have been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised the Afghan President for his statement.

"We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people,” Qureshi tweeted.

 aninews