The chief executive of the government of national unity Abdullah Abdullah called the Taliban group a ‘terrorist group’ as Afghanistan marks the week of martyrs by paying tribute to the national hero Ahmad Shah Massoud who was assassinated sixteen years ago.

In a statement released on the occasion of week of martyrs, Abdullah said the terrorist groups including Taliban, Haqqani network, and others still operate from their safe havens located on the side of the border and continue to their savagery against the Afghan people.

Abdullah further added that the Afghan forces are however busy in suppressing their attacks and conspiracies they hatch against the Afghan nation.

He also added that the BRIX summit members endorsed the efforts and fight of the Afghan security forces against the terrorist groups.

According to Abdullah, the members o the BRIX summit also called on Pakistan to assist the Afghan government and international community in eliminating the safe havens of the terrorist groups and their menace from the region.

The Afghan officials have long been insisting that the ongoing violence in the country has direct links with the freedom of movement and sanctuaries of the Taliban and Haqqani network in Pakistan.

The US President Donald Trump announced his administration’s strategy for Afghanistan and South Asia last month as he criticized Pakistan for remaining reckless regarding the terror safe havens, saying For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror. The threat is worse because Pakistan and India are two nuclear-armed states whose tense relations threaten to spiral into conflict. And that could happen.

He said the next pillar of the new strategy is to change the approach and how to deal with Pakistan, emphasizing that we can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond, emphasizing that Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists.