Islamabad says regional connectivity only after Kabul acts against terror safe havens
ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made it clear on Friday that there can be no meaningful trade or economic engagement with Afghanistan as long as the Afghan Taliban regime continues to harbor and support terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.
The statement came in reaction to the Taliban regime’s comments ordering local businessmen to trade with countries other than Pakistan and warning that they would not be responsible for any consequences if the traders continued their relations with Pakistan.
In his weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan remains committed to regional trade and connectivity, but these efforts cannot coexist with cross-border terrorism.
“Pakistan is a strong supporter of regional trade and connectivity,” he said.
“We have extended a number of trade concessions to Afghanistan, but these positive gestures have not been reciprocated by the Afghan Taliban regime, which continues to actively harbor and support elements perpetrating terrorism against Pakistan from Afghan soil.”
The spokesperson clarified that human lives take priority over commercial and economic considerations. “Trade and transit with Afghanistan are only possible if the Afghan Taliban regime takes clear measures against anti-Pakistan elements operating from its territory.”
The recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Wana have highlighted the seriousness of the threat emanating from Afghan soil.
Referring to the attacks in Wana and Islamabad, the spokesperson said: “Both incidents had deep Afghan imprints. In the Islamabad attack, an Afghan national was the suicide bomber. Let this reality sink in in Kabul.” He stressed that Pakistan will take all necessary measures to protect its people and will continue to hold Afghanistan responsible for terrorists operating from its territory.
The spokesperson also addressed Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime through dialogue and mediation. While Pakistan remains committed to peacefully resolving bilateral differences, Andrabi warned that dialogue cannot continue without concrete actions against groups like TTP and Fitnah-Al-Khawaraj (FaK).
“Pakistan’s main concern, terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, must be addressed first and foremost. We cannot ignore the loss of lives of Pakistanis at the hands of Afghan nationals and these terrorist elements,” he said.
On claims that the Afghan Taliban are helpless against the TTP, the spokesperson dismissed such statements as untenable. “The argument that they are defenseless against the TTP is not credible. The Taliban regime claims control of all its territory, but attacks against Pakistan continue to be orchestrated from Afghan soil,” he said, emphasizing that Afghan nationals involved in these attacks bear responsibility along with the groups they harbor.
The spokesperson noted that Pakistan and the United States share multifaceted cooperation in defense, trade, economic and social sectors, and efforts are being made to further strengthen this comprehensive partnership.
Furthermore, the spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s stance on the arbitration of the Indus Waters Treaty with India. Following the recent court decision, he reiterated that India’s decision to suspend participation in the Neutral Expert procedure is illegal and does not prevent the process from moving forward.
He condemned India’s handling of the Red Fort blast in Delhi and subsequent crackdown on Kashmiri citizens, describing it as a politically motivated distraction. The spokesperson noted: “India continues to use terrorism as a bogeyman to divert attention from its internal challenges, while targeting Muslims, particularly Kashmiris, in a systematic campaign of repression.”
