Pakistan denies involvement in Kabul attacks

Pakistan has dismissed as “unfortunate” Afghan allegations that Islamabad is behind a recent spate of violent attacks across Kabul.

Pakistan’s advisor on foreign policy and national security, Sartaj Aziz, said in an interview that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government has tried to improve relations with the Afghan authorities.

Aziz also rejected accusations that Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been behind a recent spike in attacks aimed at disrupting the April 5 presidential polls in neighboring Afghanistan.

“It is rather unfortunate because there is no justification for it. What do we get out of disrupting the elections? For us, a smooth transition in Afghanistan is absolutely critical because without peace and stability in Afghanistan, Pakistan cannot be stable. So, … it is important that this thing is reviewed,” the official said.

The remarks come as Afghan authorities have recently suggested that an attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul and attacks on electoral commission offices in recent days were pre-planned and masterminded by Pakistani spy agency ISI.

The developments come days before presidential election in Afghanistan which the Taliban militants have vowed to disrupt.

The relations between Kabul and Islamabad are traditionally mired in distrust. Afghanistan and Pakistan blame each other for the Taliban violence plaguing both countries.

Tensions between the two neighbors have risen in recent weeks. Afghanistan blames elements within the Pakistani government for supporting Taliban militants, while Islamabad blames Kabul for giving refuge to militants on its side of the border.

The US invaded Afghanistan with the official objective of curbing militancy and bringing peace and stability to the region. However, after more than twelve years the region remains unstable and militancy has expanded into Pakistan.