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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan An escalating border conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is threatening to undermine their cooperation on terrorism and peace talks with the Taliban as the Trump administration begins weighing its options to spur progress on both fronts.

After a blitz of terrorist bombings across Pakistan left more than 125 people dead, Pakistani forces began shelling both sides of the border Friday, aiming at camps used by a group tied to the Islamic State that claimed most of the attacks. Pakistan also closed all border crossings.

Afghanistan has protested that the shelling is forcing hundreds of villagers to flee their homes. U.S. officials have asked Pakistani military leaders to cooperate with their neighboring country in going after the militants, but Pakistan has threatened to take further unilateral action.

And in a tit-for-tat exchange of demands, Pakistan asked Afghan officials Saturday to hand over 76 alleged militants based in Afghanistan, while Afghan diplomats Sunday called for action on a list of 32 terrorist training centers and 85 militant leaders they say are in Pakistan, including the Haqqani Taliban faction that is fighting against the Afghan state.

Turmoil in Afghanistan has created space for terrorist organizations to find their foothold there, said Nafees Zakaria, a spokesman for Pakistans Foreign Affairs Ministry. He said the group responsible for the recent bombings was based in Afghanistan as far back as 2014, when it massacred 141 people at a Pakistani army school, an assault that outraged the country.

Zakaria added that other countries in the region are concerned about the growing footprint of groups like ISIS in Afghanistan. The Islamic State is also known as ISIS.

Russia in particular has been seeking a role in solving the Afghan conflict, hosting regional meetings on it and expressing support for the Taliban as an antidote to a spillover of Islamic State groups into Central Asia. That approach has alarmed U.S. military officials who urged the Trump administration to raise troop levelsin Afghanistan to block further Taliban advances.

There is plenty of irony in Pakistans finger-pointing. Afghanistan has long complained that Pakistan provides sanctuary for Taliban leaders and factions, a charge it denies. And the group most linked to last weeks bombings, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, is an outgrowth of the Pakistani Taliban, which was driven into Afghanistan by a massive Pakistan army operation in 2015.

Once the group had relocated, some members split off and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, a radical Sunni militia. Those militants have overrun several Afghan border districts, despite repeated efforts by Afghan forces to push them out, and they have claimed the bombing of several Shiite mosques in Kabul, the Afghan capital.

Afghanistan is the victim of terrorism, not its shelter, Gen. Dawlat Waziri, a spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry, declared Sunday. He called Pakistans border attacks an act of aggression and warned that if diplomatic efforts fail, Afghans will defend their soil with whatever means available. A Foreign Affairs Ministry official said Afghanistan might even seek U.N. sanctions against Pakistan for supporting terrorist groups.

Michael Kugelman, deputy director for Asian studies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, described Jamaat-ul-Ahrar as one of the Pakistani Talibans most bloodthirsty factions, with a small but brutal contingent in Afghanistan.

In Pakistan, Kugelman added, the Islamic State has been forming opportunistic partnerships with radical religious groups of all kinds, including some that officials had for political reasons been reluctant to curb. The danger, he said, is of growing collaboration between the Islamic State and high-octane local militant factions eager to latch onto its still-powerful brand.

Given the common threat this phenomenon has created for Pakistan and Afghanistan, analysts pointed out, it would seem a perfect moment for their governments to join forces , especially when they are eager to prove to the new administration in Washington that they are serious about fighting Islamist insurgents and terrorists.

Instead, years of bitter acrimony between the two Muslim neighbors has fueled an explosion of highly politicized accusations and threats, reminiscent of a decade ago when Afghanistans then-president, Hamid Karzai, used to send lists of anti-Afghan militants living openly in Pakistan to its military president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf with no result.

The growing wave of terror in both countries requires a joint approach, the News International newspaper here urged in its lead editorial Sunday. The only beneficiary of increasing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are terrorist groups. It is important to ensure that we, on both sides, do not resort to blame games.

Today, the stakes for both countries are high. In Afghanistan, the 16-year war with the Taliban is at a stalemate, the defense forces are demoralized and stretched thin, and the government of President Ashraf Ghani is beset by divisions and administrative paralysis.

Although the Trump administration appears likely to continue supporting the war with funds and troops, critics say the conflict cannot be settled unless the Ghani government takes decisive action to curb corruption, overcome ethnic rivalries, resume stalled election plans and mend fences with Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been struggling to rein in a panoply of militant Islamist groups without arousing further violence, to maintain a balance between military and civilian power and to navigate new relations with China and other partners while preserving long-standing security ties with Washington.

Even before last weeks attacks, some influential U.S. policy experts had urged the Trump administration to sharply cut aid to Pakistan if it does not carry out a full-fledged crackdown on Islamist militants and begin playing a positive role in the effort to settle the Afghan war, rather than trying to manipulate it while providing refuge for anti-Afghan insurgents.

Davood Moradian, director of the Kabul-based Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, said success in Afghanistan was achievable but only if three things happened.

Afghanistan has to address corruption, strengthen the armed forces and integrate the Taliban into politics, he said. Pakistan has to abandon its strategy of using terrorism as a state policy. And the United States has to assure its allies and adversaries in both countries that it is determined to prevail.

Read more

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U.N. says civilian toll in Afghanistan is highest in years

Afghans hope and worry that Trump will shake things up

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Pakistan shells border with Afghanistan as tensions rise over terrorist attacks - Washington Post

Zimbabwe v Afghanistan, 3rd ODI, Harare February 21, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff

Zimbabwe 129 (Musakanda 60, Naib 4-27, Rashid 3-29) beat Afghanistan 126 (Stanikzai 31, Williams 3-15, Mpofu 3-24, Chatara 3-30) by three runs Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

File photo - Chris Mpofu set in motion a stunning comeback from Zimbabwe with two wickets in the 27th over Getty Images

Harare Sports Club. Afghanistan are cantering towards a target of 130. They need 16 runs more, off 24 overs, with five wickets in hand, to win a third successive ODI series against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe have never defended so low a total in one-day internationals. The match is in the bag, right? Enter Chris Mpofu. Add some handy work from wicketkeeper Peter Moor, vital spin support from Sean Williams, and rash batting from Afghanistan's middle and lower order, and what you have is an unbelievable three-run win for Zimbabwe.

When Mpofu began the 27th over, it hardly seemed like the match was turning so dramatically. Mohammad Nabi, who was still new to the crease, dispatched the first ball of the over, a length delivery, over long-off for six. He took a single next ball, and the well-set Samiullah Shenwari was back on strike. Afghanistan needed nine. Shenwari went after a short, wide one, and under-edged; the ball was dying on keeper Moor, but he dived forward and held on. The very next ball, new man Najibullah Zadran's shot selection was suspect - he tried to pull a short one from outside off - and top edged. Moor held on again.

Six needed off 23 overs, three wickets in hand. Left-arm spinner Williams, bowling his fifth over, tossed it up on middle and Nabi missed the cut. Bowled. Williams sent down a maiden. The very first ball of the next over, the Mpofu-Moor pairing was at it again. This time it was a short ball angling down leg, which Rashid Khan edged to be caught behind. Another wicket maiden and it was back to Williams. No. 10 Amir Hamza managed to get two off the first ball, Graeme Cremer misfielding amid all the tension. He kept out the next one, but could not hold himself back off the third ball; a big swing at a delivery tossed up on off ended in the hands of Richard Ngarava at point. Zimbabwe had won by three runs, keeping the series alive. To complete their first ever ODI series victory against a spirited Afghanistan side, they will have to win the next two games too, on February 24 and 26.

Zimbabwe had little to cheer after choosing to bat. The only real contribution of note came from Tarisai Musakanda, who scored 60 out of their total of 129. Only one other batsmen - Malcolm Waller, who finished unbeaten on 36 - made it past 10 as the home side imploded in 32.4 overs. Much of the damage was done by the medium pace of Gulbadin Naib and the legspin of Rashid Khan, who must have still been in a happy daze from his success at the IPL auction. He was also on a hat-trick at one point in this match.

When the players broke for lunch, Afghanistan were comfortable at 63 for 3 in 13 overs with captain Asghar Stanikzai and Shenwari at the crease. New-ball bowler Tendai Chatara got Stanikzai soon after the interval, though - another catch to keeper Moor - helping Zimbabwe take a step in the direction of one of the most stunning comebacks.

ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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Afghanistan lose 5 for 5 to mess up 130 chase - ESPNcricinfo.com

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan and Afghanistan have issued conciliatory statements in an apparent attempt to defuse days of border tensions stemming from charges Afghan soil was used for masterminding last weeks terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities.

Pakistani troops have been staging cross-border shelling to target what authorities claimed were camps of Jammat-ul Ahrar, or JuA, a splinter faction of the anti-state Pakistani Taliban for being behind most of the deadly violence.

Islamabad maintains that JuA leaders are sheltering in Afghan border areas from where they plot and direct violence against Pakistan. Security officials also confirmed Monday, the military deployed additional heavy artillery at main border crossings to deter illegal movements.

However, Pakistani military chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Monday explained his troop build up along the Afghan border and enhanced security arrangements are aimed at fighting common enemy of terrorism.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have fought against terrorism and shall continue this effort together, the general told a security meeting of his top commanders in Rawalpindi, where the military is headquartered.

Bajwa also called for more effective border coordination and cooperation with Afghan security forces to prevent cross-border movement of terrorists and other illegal activities, according to a statement released by the militarys media wing after the meeting.

Sindh province, Pakistan, and the Afghan-Pakistan border

The deadliest terrorist attack in Pakistan targeted a famous Sufi shrine in the southern Sindh province last Thursday. The suicide blast left at least 90 devotees dead and over 300 wounded. Local affiliates of Islamic State took credit for that bloodshed.

Earlier on Monday, Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah chaired a meeting of cabinet ministers in Kabul and expressed concerns over Pakistani shelling of border areas, warning such threats would help neither side.

Afghan forces have been directed from the outset not to take actions that could fuel the tension on the Durand Line, Abdullah said referring to the frontier with Pakistan.

FILE - Chief Executive of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah.

The Afghan chief executive reiterated terrorist groups, including IS and al-Qaida, active in his country and inflicting bloodshed on Afghans were created outside Afghanistan.

Abdullah did not name any country but Kabul has long alleged that the Taliban and its allies waging years of insurgency against the Afghan government are using Pakistani sanctuaries for regrouping and plotting attacks on the Afghan side.

These groups are operating under the Taliban umbrella in areas of Afghanistan which are under the influence of the Taliban, Abdullah asserted.

Separately, the Afghan foreign ministry revealed it has handed over to Pakistan a list of 32 training centers and 85 militant leaders, including that of the Taliban and the terrorist Haqqani network, who are involved in terrorist attacks against Afghanistan.

Kabul has asked Islamabad to take action against these facilities and men to prevent them from staging the cross-border violence.

Mondays move came after Pakistan last week handed over a list of 76 fugitive militants to the Afghan government, saying they are operating from the Afghan side and masterminded recent violence on Pakistani soil, and demanded Kabul take immediate action against them.

Afghan ambassador to Islamabad, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal delivered the list to Pakistani civilian and military authorities shortly after he arrived back from Kabul. Speaking to VOA, the Afghan diplomat described his meetings as constructive and positive.

As a result I expect deescalation of the current tension and the creation of a more positive environment for responding to each other's concerns and grievances in a cooperative manner, said Zakhilwal

Mutual allegations of sponsoring terrorist attacks on each others territory have been at the center of political and diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, sharing a long porous border of 2,600 kilometers. Both sides deny allegations they are supporting the militants.

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Pakistan, Afghanistan Move to Defuse Border Tensions - Voice of America

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere criticized German states that refuse to deport rejected Afghan asylum seekers in an interview on public broadcaster "ARD" onMonday night. He said that the states had neglected to address the topic at a recent meeting. The German government's stance, one contested by several states, is that parts of Afghanistan are sufficiently safe to send people back there.

"Back then, the states said that they weren't experts on foreign policy," de Maiziere said. "They said that they wanted and had to rely on the national government to evaluate certain countries." De Maiziere criticized Schleswig-Holstein specifically for refusing to follow the national government's guidelines without talking to him first.

Germany's most northern statehad declared last week that it would stop all deportations to Afghanistan for three months - the maximum amount of time states are allowed to halt deportations without Berlin's permission.

Afghanistan: safe or not?

A young boy carries a sign saying 'Afghanistan is not safe!' at a demonstration against deportations on February 11

In Germany, there has been a tense debate over whether rejected asylum seekers should be deported to Afghanistan. The federal German administration has come under fire including from its own human rights commissioner because it considers parts of Afghanistan safe even though much of thecountry iscaught in battles between Taliban fighters and state troops, and terror attacks are frequent.

De Maiziere defended the national government's stance on Afghanistan. "We know of course that the safety situation is complicated, but there are safe areas," he told ARD's evening news show "Tagesthemen,"saying that the north of the country and capital Kabul were relatively peaceful.

Stefan Studt, the interior minister for Schleswig-Holstein, criticized this stance in an interview on the same program on Monday. "If Mr. de Maiziere says that there are safe regions [in Afghanistan] and I ask him where these are, and he does not give me a precise answer, then I cannot see how it's supposed to be safe there."

Stefan Studt said De Maiziere could not specify what regions of Afghanistan were safe

Schleswig-Holstein said its decision to halt deportations was based on a December 2016 report from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), which found that the security situation in Afghanistan had significantly worsened throughout 2016 and that "no differentiation between 'safe' and 'unsafe' territories" was possible.

Five German states halted deportations

Since Berlin came to an agreement with the Kabul administration last October, allowing group deportations via chartered flights,Germany has deported a total of 59 rejected Afghanasylum seekers.

Five German states have refused to deport rejected asylum seekers to the country(mostly with the exemption of those who have a criminial record). The 11 remaining states deport Afghans, though most have some imposed restrictions -refusing for example to deport children, women or families.

There is a total of over 200,000 foreigners obligated to leave the country currently living in Germany, though roughly 150,000 of those deportation orders have been temporarily suspended.

mb/msh (AFP, dpa, epd, KNA)

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De Maiziere and German states bicker over deportations to Afghanistan - Deutsche Welle

File image of Javed Miandad. (Getty Images)

New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has played down big money signings of Afghanistan cricketers Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi who have been the talk of the town since getting picked at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Monday.

18-year-old leg spinner Rashid Khan was picked by Hyderabad for a whopping Rs 4 Crores while his teammate Mohammad Nabi also went to the defending champions for Rs 30 Lakh.

However, for Javed Miandad, it wasn't such a big deal.

"We don't care if an Afghan player or any other player is bought in the IPL for millions of rupees. Earlier, we used to feel bad when Pakistani players were not able to play in IPL, but now we have our own Pakistan Super Legaue, which is very successful," said Miandad in an exclusive interview.

Although, Miandad did conced that players from associate nations will soon be seen in other big leagues as well.

"If a product is great, it will sell across the world. Similarly, a good player will always have admirers all over the world," said Miandad.

However, Miandad was quick to warn the Afghanistan Cricket Board that they must not celebrate two of their players getting big amounts in the the IPL and should continue to focus on improving the infrastructure in their country.

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IPL 2017: Javed Miandad Plays Down Big Money Signings From Afghanistan - News18