Afghanistan to act against Taliban group

Afzal Khan in Islamabad

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif got assurances on Wednesday from the Afghanistan Government and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for action against a Kunar-based Taliban splinter group which is believed to be behind the Peshawar school massacre.

General Sharif, accompanied by ISI Chief Lt-Gen Rizwan Akhtar, made an unscheduled visit to Afghanistan for sharing vital elements of intelligence with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Commander of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan General John Campbell.

The military’s public affairs wing, ISPR, said in a statement on General Sharif’s meetings in Afghanistan: “Afghan President assured General Raheel Sharif that Afghan soil will not be allowed for terrorist activities against Pakistan.”

ISAF commander also assured General Sharif of ISAF’s complete support in “eliminating terrorists” in his area of responsibility, the statement added.

There was, however, no word from the Afghan Government or ISAF on General Sharif’s meetings.

“Both President Ghani and General Campbell assured General Sharif that they’ll take action against the group involved in the Peshawar attack,” a source, who had been briefed on the Kabul visit, was cited by the media here as saying.

According to this source, the intelligence shared with Afghan president and ISAF was “very specific” and pointed towards the involvement of a Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) splinter group.

The attack has been claimed by Jamaatul Ahrar which was formed in August.

‘All children killed. What next?’

• “We have killed all the children in the auditorium,” one of the attackers told his handler in a chilling message after the Peshawar school massacre. “What do we do now?”
• “Wait for the army people. Kill them before blowing yourself," his handler ordered
• This, according to a security official, was one of the last conversations the attackers and their handler had shortly before two remaining suicide bombers charged towards the special operations soldiers positioned just outside the school
• This and other conversations form part of the dossier that General Sharif shared with Afghan and ISAF authorities