The Foreign Office said on Thursday that Pakistan has made counterterrorism a central focus in its discussions with Afghanistan. However, it refrained from commenting on the outcome of the talks held so far.
“For Pakistan, the issues relating to terrorism are high on the agenda of Pakistan-Afghanistan exchanges,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said during the weekly media briefing. Pakistan and Afghanistan have been discussing aspects of combating the threat Pakistan faces from terror elements. These elements have found hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Ms Baloch was responding to a question about the recent meeting between Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, Obaid Nizamani, and the IEA’s Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, where the two reportedly discussed expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties.
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Pakistan Urges Action on TTP
Attacks by the banned Afghanistan-based Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants against targets within Pakistan have strained Pakistan’s relationship with the IEA administration. Islamabad has repeatedly urged the IEA to take action against the outlawed TTP. However, the IEA leadership in Kabul has appeared to ignore these demands.
Recently, reports suggested that the IEA may be relocating TTP fighters and their families from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to the Ghazni province. However, Ms. Baloch did not confirm or deny this. She stated only that discussions on terrorism would continue. Pakistan would also continue to encourage the IEA to take action against groups and entities threatening Pakistan’s security.
In response to another question, Ms Baloch expressed concern that Afghanistan-based militants could potentially unite and become a greater regional threat. “We would therefore like to see immediate, effective and robust action against these terror groups,” she emphasised.
Central to these concerns is the threat of a more unified terrorist network emanating from Afghanistan, which would complicate counterterrorism efforts across the region.
As for normalization with India, Ms. Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s desire for “constructive engagement and result-oriented dialogue.” However, she lamented that India lacks the political will to resolve disputes through diplomacy.
“Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence. We want peace and stability in the region. Despite the challenges in our bilateral relations with India, we have acted responsibly,” she stated. “It takes two to tango. We can only hope that our eastern neighbour will take steps to create a conducive environment for peace, dialogue and the resolution of long-standing disputes.”
This news is sourced from [Dawn] and is for informational purposes only.
