Further close cooperation must be ensured between Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to overcome common challenges, including terrorism, facing the two nations, said Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Addressing Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day ceremony at Pakistani embassy in Kabul on Tuesday, he claimed that Afghanistan should extend the hand of friendship towards Pakistan instead of taking orders from western countries.

“We are sharing common interests, our benefits and losses are one. If we stand alongside each other, I am confident that hopefully no power in the world can cast an evil eye toward us,” he told the gathering.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Zahid Nasrullah Khan said the Pakistani armed forces have fought bravely against all militant groups without any discrimination.  

“Our brave security forces have offered great sacrifices in the campaign against terrorist groups without any discrimination, a stable Afghanistan is crucial for peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said.

The remarks by the Pakistani officials come at a time that the Afghan officials have persistently accused Pakistan of supporting and providing safe havens to the Taliban and its brutal offshoot – the Haqqani network.

The gathering was addressed by Mohammad Mohaqiq, the second deputy of CEO Abdullah Abdullah, who said the issue of terrorism in some ways has created misunderstandings between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“If Afghanistan and Pakistan come together in the fight against terrorism, if our western and eastern neighbors cooperate with us, terrorism cannot come to us from the sky,” said Mohaqiq.