In London, General Qamar Javed Bajwa Discusses India's Role in Pakistan-Afghan Tensions

London, October 13: Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa met UK's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Gareth Baley in London.

"Tensed relations" between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the establishment of peace in Afghanistan and India's role in the talks were discussed between the two during General Bajwa's official three-day visit to the United Kingdom, according to The Nation.

Being strong trade partners, India, time and again, voiced unequivocal support to the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to emerge as a peaceful nation by eradicating terrorism in the country.

During Afghanistan President Dr. Mohammed Ashraf Ghani's visit to India in September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reiterated India's support to an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace and reconciliation process that would enable the nation to continue as a united, peaceful, inclusive and democratic country and emerge as economically vibrant.

Pakistan and Afghanistan relations, on the other hand, have been tumultuous, with Afghanistan alleging Pakistan army's aid to the Taliban in the deadly August 13 Ghazni siege, which left 100 dead and 150 others injured. U.S., China Officials to Hold Talks to Reduce Trade, Military Tensions.

General Bajwa had denied Afghanistan's claims after President Ghani questioned the army chief as to why Taliban militants, who were accused of carrying out the attacks, were being treated in Pakistan's hospitals.

This came in the wake of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government's vision to establish better bilateral relations with its neighbours, including Afghanistan. Efforts have been made by both Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to counter terrorism in the region previously, with the inaugural session of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS) being held on July 22 this year. In-depth discussions regarding methods of counter-terrorism were discussed in the summit amongst other security issues, according to Geo TV.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also visited Kabul on September 15 and met the Afghan President to discuss peace and stability in the region by jointly working together to combat terrorism.

India reiterated its support for Afghanistan at the UN Security Council Open Debate by launching a veiled attack on Pakistan by saying that terror offences in Afghanistan are perpetrated by those harboured in safe havens in the country's 'neighbourhood'.