“Pakistan has been urging the Taliban to take decisive and effective action against terrorist groups for four years”
Pakistan has stressed that it does not want an escalation of tensions with Afghanistan and remains hopeful for a “positive outcome” from the next round of talks with the Afghan Taliban, scheduled to begin on November 6, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a press briefing on Friday.
He recalled that the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime in the presence of mediators concluded yesterday evening in Istanbul.
“Pakistan participated in the Istanbul talks, which began on October 25, in good spirit and with positive intention,” he added.
The negotiations were to last two days. “However, with the aim of reaching an amicable agreement with the Taliban regime, the Pakistani side seriously continued negotiations for four days.”
He stressed that Pakistan has no intention of further escalating hostilities but “hopes that the Afghan Taliban regime will honor its commitment to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable measures against terrorist entities, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan.”
The term Fitna-al-Khawarij is the state-designated term for the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna-al-Hindustan is used to describe groups based in Balochistan, highlighting state allegations of India’s involvement in terrorism and efforts to destabilize Pakistan.
Andrabi said Pakistan has been urging the Afghan Taliban for four years to take “decisive and effective action” against terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
“We have repeatedly shared credible information about the presence of senior leaders of Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan on Afghan soil with the Taliban regime. However, despite repeated assurances in the past, there has been a surge in terrorist attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan.
He said the Afghan Taliban’s “consistent and complete disregard” of Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns over the past four years and “unprovoked aggression against Pakistan with the support of Fitna-al-Khawarij on October 11-12 and then October 14-15 led to violent exchanges across the international border.”
“Pakistan responded decisively to the Afghan provocation aimed at destabilizing the border area, facilitating terrorism and furthering the nefarious designs of Fitna-al-Khawarij.” Pakistan would respond resolutely if provocations continued in the future, he added.
The spokesperson reiterated that “the government and the armed forces are ready to take all possible measures to protect the sovereignty of Pakistan and ensure the safety and security of its people.”
The spokesperson gave details of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s latest visit to Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh.
During his visit, the Prime Minister met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held important talks with the Saudi Minister of Defense.
The delegation also held telephone talks with foreign ministers of various countries, discussing bilateral issues and investment opportunities.
Pak-Afghan tensions
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during negotiations in Doha, the two sides said on October 19, after a week of violent border clashes, the worst violence between the South Asian neighbors since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
The two countries met again in Istanbul on October 25 to resolve “detailed issues.” However, talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul failed to produce any progress on Islamabad’s key demand for a clear action plan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from Afghan soil.
Learn more: Pakistan agrees to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban at the request of the host country
Radio Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan had agreed to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban at the request of the host countries, a move that will keep the Pakistani delegation in Istanbul longer than expected.
The decision was taken to give the negotiation process another chance, but Pakistan’s basic demand – that Afghan territory not be used to commit terrorism against Pakistan – will remain at the heart of any resumption of talks.
