GHAZNI CITY (PAN): Senior officials on Tuesday voiced deep concern at the growing number of foreign militants, aided by local fighters, in the restive southern province of Ghazni. Governor Musa Khan Akbarzada blamed a wave of recent unrest on foreign rebels, whose aim was to jeopardise efforts at preparing Ghazni City, the provincial capital, to serve as the Asian capital of Islamic civilisation. “I ask Afghan insurgents not to bring foreign militants to Ghazni.” The deputy head of provincial council, Abdul Jami Jami, confirmed that a large number of Pakistani insurgents had sneaked into Ghazni. "Pakistan and Iran don’t want Ghazni to serve as the centre of Islamic civilization.” The neighbours were continually interfering in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, the public representative alleged. Both Pakistan and Iran deny meddling in the war-battered country. Khairullah, a resident of Andar district, said the foreigners included Pakistanis, Chechens and Arabs. He added the aliens were involved in killing innocent people and breaking into people’s homes. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the allegation as unfounded, saying there were no foreigners among their ranks and that they needed no one’s support.
