KABUL - Presiding over the weekly Council of Ministers (CM) meeting on Monday, Abdullah Abdullah, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Unity Government (NUG), once again accused Pakistan of harboring militancy, and asked them to stop funding and assisting insurgents.

"We expect that funding to the Taliban is halted. Mutual trust will be built when funding to the Taliban ends," Abdullah said.

At the meeting, Abdullah also praised Afghan troops who managed to push back insurgents and retake control of the strategic city of Kunduz in the northern province.

"Progress has been made regarding the clearance operation in Kunduz. Some of the people have returned to their homes, however, we want more security measures for Kunduz to be considered," he said.

While the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif renews Islamabad's commitment to work at resuming the Afghan peace talks which stalled following the reported death of Taliban's reclusive leader Mullah Omar, Abdullah called on Pakistani officials to stop backing the militants in an effort to rehabilitate mutual understanding and trust between the two nations.

Referring to Pakistan's controversial role in the war, some Afghan political commentators on Monday asked the government to hold talks with Pakistan and to put pressure on the neighboring country through the UN security Council to stop them from funding and collaborating with the Taliban.

"Pakistan must be dealt with seriously. The international community and the UN must mount pressure on Pakistan," military analyst Jawed Kohistani said.

Many in Afghanistan are skeptical about Pakistan's honest cooperation on the war against insurgency, urging that Afghan officials have always asked Pakistan to cooperate, but all efforts remained unproductive.

Afghan government and Taliban held their first official talks in the Pakistani city of Muree in July. But the talks were deadlocked amid the reported death of Taliban leader Mullah Omar and Taliban launched fresh offensives and acts of violence on Afghan cities. (Tolonews)