Pakistan slammed Afghan National Security Advisor Rangin Dadfar Spanta for alleging that the country and its military intelligence were linked to terrorists, saying it would not be "distracted by such unfair remarks".
Former Afghanistan foreign minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta reportedly described former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif as 'the author of Islamic radicalism'.
Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai concluded his first visit to Afghanistan for foreign office consultations after assuming office.
In what highlights the strained relationship between the two neighbouring countries, a top Afghanistan official has urged the United States to impose sanctions on Pakistan and refuse visas to military generals of that country.Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta hurled severe accusations on Pakistani generals, saying there are definite reports that they have terror links.
Accusing Pakistan of harbouring Taliban and Al Qaeda militants, a top Afghan official on Monday said the global community is committing a blunder by embracing it as a strategic partner despite the fact that terrorism emanating from the region is affecting India, United Kingdom and others. "Unfortunately, the military-intelligence establishment of one of our neighbours still regards Afghanistan as its sphere of influence," Rangin Dadfar Spanta said.
Afghanistan has invited India to broaden its engagement in that country, including in enhancing the capabilities of its security forces, but made it clear that it would resist attempt by anybody to undermine the destiny of its people, in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
A joint statement, issued at the end of the talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Afghanistan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta, said: "They highlighted terrorism as the most important security threat facing the region and reiterated their full resolve to combat it."
In a significant policy shift, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to send a group of military officers to Pakistan for training, a decision which could raise eyebrows in India.
Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dafdar Spanta confirmed, for the first time, that the Afghan government had "information and evidence" that the October blasts were masterminded by the "same sources" that were behind the blast against the Indian embassy in July 2008.
With India's patience running out, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday asked his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi about the progress into the Mumbai terror attacks case and sought a quicker trial."I made enquiries about the progress they (Pakistan) have made about bringing to justice those who were responsible for the attack in Mumbai," said Krishna about his meeting with Qureshi in Kabul.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived in Kabul on Wednesday on a two-day visit, discussed cooperation in the field of security and developmental projects with President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Rangin Dafdar Spanta.
The Pakistan police on Tuesday said it is clueless of the whereabouts of kidnapped Afghan diplomat Abdul Khaliq Farahi.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is in India for talks. Sheela Bhatt reviews the relationship.
The minister said that during his recent visit to Islamabad, he had stressed that Pakistan should provide transit facility to Afghanistan through land.
The second conference on Afghan reconstruction ended in New Delhi on Sunday.
