AFGHAN President Ashraf Ghani urged Pakistan yesterday to crack down on the Taliban after five people died in a suicide car bombing near Kabul International Airport.

He blamed Islamabad for its ongoing support for the group whose insurgency against Kabul is now nearing its 14th year, vowing to send a delegation later this week to demand an end to this.

“We know they have sanctuaries there. We know they are active there. We need all those activities to be stopped,” Mr Ghani declared.

There was no immediate reaction from Islamabad, which has in the past denied supporting the Taliban.

Mr Ghani has pursued closer ties with Pakistan, hoping that Islamabad could use its influence to bring the Taliban into peace negotiations.

Islamabad hosted Kabul-Taliban talks last month, but a second round was postponed after the Afghan government announced the death over two years ago of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar.