ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office on Friday reiterated its appeal to Afghanistan to ensure that its soil is not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, as Islamabad reacted cautiously to Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan in his weekly press briefing said Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereign right to maintain relations with any country. He, however, stressed that Pakistan’s consistent position was that Afghan territory should not be used against Pakistan.
“Afghanistan is a sovereign and independent country, and we have no specific comments to make on its bilateral relations with any other country,” he said.
“Our request to Afghanistan, while respecting its sovereign right to pursue the foreign policy it desires for its country, has been that Afghan territory should not be allowed to be used against Pakistan,” he stressed.
The statement comes amid growing concern in Islamabad over the Taliban’s growing involvement in New Delhi.
This week, acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi began a week-long visit to India, the first such trip by a senior Taliban official since the group took power in August 2021.
India, which closed its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban seized power, has now decided to restore its mission to full diplomatic status, a decision seen as a major change in New Delhi’s policy. According to Indian media, the visit also focused on technical cooperation in areas such as water resources management, an issue viewed with suspicion in Pakistan given India’s ongoing disputes over water sharing under the suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Diplomatic observers believe the timing of the Afghan foreign minister’s visit is significant, at a time when ties between Kabul and Islamabad are at an all-time low due to the issue of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan’s recent targeted operations against the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During the press briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson also addressed reports regarding Pakistan’s recent counter-terrorism operations along the Afghan border.
“Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of its people,” Shafqat said.
“Our security and law enforcement forces are carrying out targeted operations in the border regions to protect our citizens from terrorist threats, particularly those posed by groups such as Fitna al Khwarij or the TTP.”
He said these operations are “meticulously planned based on credible and actionable intelligence and executed with precision.”
Although Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, Shafqat said Islamabad remains firm in its commitment to foster dialogue and cooperation to address the common challenge of terrorism.
“Pakistan has always prioritized diplomacy, even in the face of persistent threats emanating from terrorist hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan,” he said.
