ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Monday firmly rejected any insinuation of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack on the Afghan Presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah’s convoy and allegations of seeking to “disrupt” elections in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan is deeply disappointed by these irresponsible allegations as they serve to vitiate the positive environment created between the two countries through constructive efforts over the past many months,” a statement issued by the Foreign Office said on Monday.
The Foreign Office said that regrettably these allegations fall in the familiar pattern of certain elements in Afghanistan sparing no occasion to malign Pakistan and its security institutions and shifting the blame to others for their own security failures.
“We are sure that neither the Afghan people, nor the international community, would be misled by these motivated allegations.
“As we have clearly stated before, Pakistan’s interests are not served by a ‘disruption’ of Afghan elections. On the contrary, a peaceful election and smooth democratic transition would advance our interest in having a stable Afghanistan. Accordingly, we remain committed to supporting all efforts for a free and peaceful election, including through enhanced security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,” the statement read.
The statement said that it is Pakistan’s earnest hope that the people of Afghanistan would emerge stronger and more unified from this election.
“As always, the government and people of Pakistan would continue to stand in strong solidarity with their Afghan brethren at this crucial juncture,” the statement added.
An explosion hit the convoy of the Afghan presidential election front-runner Abdullah Abdullah as he left a campaign rally in Kabul on Friday. The blast left at least four persons killed and 17 others injured; however, Abdullah himself was left unharmed.
