ISLAMABAD, 30 September 2021, (TON): Islamabad reacted to the draft bill introduced in the US Senate seeking sanctions against Pakistan along with the Afghan Taliban, terming references to the country, which remained the frontline state in the US-led campaign in Afghanistan, as “unwarranted”.

Separately, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed rejected allegations that Pakistan had provided any military support to the Afghan Taliban.

The reaction from the Foreign Office as well as from the interior minister came a day after 22 US Senators from the Republican Party moved a draft bill that sought sanctions against the Taliban but also called for assessing the alleged role Pakistan played since 2001 in supporting the insurgent group.

The 57-page draft bill called ‘‘Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act of 2021’’ made several references to Pakistan.

The draft bill read “an assessment of support by state and non-state actors, including the Government of Pakistan for the Taliban between 2001 and 2020, including the provision of sanctuary space, financial support, intelligence support, logistics and medical support, training, equipping, and tactical, operational, or strategic direction.”

It also calls for an assessment about the alleged role of the state, non-state actors as well as the government of Pakistan in supporting the Taliban offensive leading to the fall of Kabul.