ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) on Saturday objected to remarks made by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to India, saying “diverting” responsibility for combating terrorism could not absolve Afghan authorities of their obligations to ensure regional peace.
Muttaqi’s visit marked India’s first high-level engagement with the Taliban government since it took power in 2021.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday, Afghanistan’s foreign minister commented on a recent explosion in Kabul, condemning the incident and targeting Pakistan. “Whatever problems each country has, they must be solved by themselves,” he said.
Muttaqi further claimed that there was no longer any terrorist group in Afghanistan. “If other countries achieve peace themselves like we did in Afghanistan, then there will be peace in the entire region. For the last eight months, there has not been a single minor incident in Afghanistan. In four years, no one has been injured on Afghan soil. So this is the best evidence we have presented,” he said.
In response, FO issued a statement saying that Pakistan’s strong reservations on elements of the India-Afghanistan Joint Statement had been conveyed to the Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad by the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia and Afghanistan).
“Pakistan also strongly rejected the assertion of the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister that terrorism is an internal problem of Pakistan,” the statement said.
He added that Pakistan had repeatedly shared detailed evidence regarding the presence of elements of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan with the support of elements in Afghanistan.
FO reiterated that “by diverting responsibility for controlling terrorism to Pakistan, one cannot absolve the interim Afghan government of its obligations to ensure peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used by the state to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), while Fitna al-Hindustan refers to groups based in Balochistan believed to be supported by India.
FO also expressed strong objections to the references made in the India-Afghanistan joint statement.
“It has been stated that the reference to Jammu and Kashmir as part of India is in blatant violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir. The joint statement is highly insensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the Indian people of Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination,” it said. declared FO.
Highlighting Pakistan’s humanitarian support for several decades, FO recalled that the country had “generously welcomed nearly four million Afghans for more than four decades in a spirit of good neighborliness and Islamic brotherhood.”
He added that with peace gradually returning to Afghanistan, it is time for “unauthorized Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan to return to their country.”
“Like all other countries and in accordance with international norms and practices, Pakistan has the right to regulate the presence of foreign nationals residing in its territory,” the statement said.
“At the same time, along with the repatriation of Afghan nationals, Pakistan has also generously issued medical and study visas to meet the medical and educational needs of Afghan nationals. In the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and good neighborly relations, Pakistan will continue to provide humanitarian support to the Afghan people.”
FO reiterated that “Pakistan wants to see a peaceful, stable, regionally connected and prosperous Afghanistan.”
He noted that Islamabad had extended “all possible trade, economic and connectivity facilitations” to Afghanistan, saying these measures were aimed “at promoting cooperation and socio-economic development of the two countries”.
At the same time, FO stressed that the government had a responsibility “to take all possible measures for the safety and security of its population.”
The statement concluded that Pakistan “expects the interim Afghan government to play its due role in helping Pakistan achieve this noble goal by taking concrete steps to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist elements against Pakistan.”
