‘Kashmir is not Afghanistan’: Taliban slams Pakistan, asks both parties to maintain peace

New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The Taliban has slammed Pakistan for linking heightened tensions between India and Pakistan over the situation in Kashmir with that of Afghanistan.

In a statement issued by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed, it slammed Pakistan for comparing the situation of Kashmir with Afghanistan and asked both parties to maintain peace in the region.

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“Linking the issue of Kashmir with that of Afghanistan by some parties will not aid in improving the crisis at hand because the issue of Afghanistan is not related,” said the statement said.

“Having gained bitter experiences from war and conflict, we urge peace and use of rational pathways to solve regional issues,” the statement added.

This comes after Pakistan’s leader of opposition Shehbaz Sharif compared the situation in Kashmir with that of Afghanistan and said: “What kind of a deal is this that the Afghans enjoy and celebrate peace in Kabul, but in Kashmir, blood is shed? No, this is not acceptable for us.”

However, Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul clarified that the Kashmir issue would not affect the peace drive in Afghanistan.

“The issue of Kashmir has nothing to do with the violence in Afghanistan and it is unfortunately still unresolved...,” said Pakistan ambassador Zahid Nasrullah Khan.

Earlier this week, the Indian government revoked Article 370 which grants special status to Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Also Read: UN chief calls for ‘maximum restraint’ on Kashmir, invokes Simla agreement

Jammu and Kashmir has been paralysed by an unprecedented lockdown to prevent any backlash over the government's big move. More than 50,000 security personnel have been pushed into Jammu and Kashmir in addition to the existing troops.

Prohibitory orders are in place as part of which large gatherings and meetings are banned and the state's mainstream political leaders, including former Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been under arrest.