ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday reiterated its call on Afghanistan to ensure that its soil is not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, as Islamabad reacted cautiously to Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, during his weekly press briefing, said Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereign right to maintain relations with any country. However, he stressed that Pakistan’s consistent position has been that Afghan territory should not be allowed to be used against Pakistan.
“Afghanistan is a sovereign and independent country, and we have no particular comment to offer on its bilateral relations with any other country,” he said.
“Our request to Afghanistan, respecting its sovereign right to implement the foreign policy it desires for its country, has been that Afghan territory not be allowed to be used against Pakistan,” he emphasized.
The statement came amid growing concern in Islamabad over the Taliban’s deepening engagement with New Delhi.
This week, acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi embarked on a week-long visit to India, the first such trip by a senior Taliban official since the group seized power in August 2021.
India, which had closed its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban takeover, has now decided to restore the full diplomatic status of its mission, a move seen as a major shift in New Delhi’s policy. The visit, according to Indian media reports, also discussed technical cooperation in areas including water resources management, a matter 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 as it comes at a time when Kabul’s ties with Islamabad are at a low point over the issue of cross-border terrorism and Pakistan’s recent targeted operations against the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During the briefing, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson also addressed reports on 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 forces and law enforcement agencies carry out targeted operations in the border regions to safeguard 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.”
While Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, Shafqat said Islamabad remained steadfast in its commitment to foster dialogue and cooperation to address the shared 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.
