Pakistan says terrorism from Afghanistan poses a serious threat to its own security and that of neighbouring countries, warning that attacks launched from Afghan territory have increased and that militant groups have gained greater room to operate.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan remained firmly committed to political dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation, while stressing that terrorism remained a fundamental security concern for the country.
The spokesperson said Islamabad had provided the Afghan government with accurate information about the locations where militant groups were operating inside Afghanistan. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army and other militant organisations had established safe havens in Kabul and other parts of the country, the spokesperson said.
According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan’s concerns about terrorism from Afghan territory have been raised in regional diplomatic forums, including the Moscow Format, and were reflected in a joint statement issued after an earlier meeting. However, the Afghan Taliban did not agree to retain the same language in this year’s discussions.
The spokesperson said the absence of a joint declaration should not undermine the importance of regional dialogue, emphasising that terrorism was not merely a matter of words for Pakistan but a core national security issue. The concerns over terrorism from Afghanistan, the spokesperson indicated, would continue to be pursued through diplomatic channels.
On Pakistan’s participation in the next Moscow Format meeting, the spokesperson said a decision had yet to be made and that it was too early to comment on the matter. The country could continue to take part in regional consultations and negotiations on Afghanistan, the spokesperson added.
Pakistan also rejected allegations by the Afghan foreign minister that it supported Islamic State Khorasan Province, describing the claims as baseless. Islamabad likewise denied allegations relating to operations in Nuristan.
Turning to India, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the challenges Pakistan faced on its eastern border were not new and had existed since the country’s independence in 1947. Pakistan had fought four wars since independence, the spokesperson said, adding that including the events of 2025 would make it five.
The spokesperson said Pakistan remained prepared to defend its sovereignty and rights, asserting that India had failed to defeat Pakistan and would never succeed in doing so.
The briefing underlined Islamabad’s position that security threats emanating from beyond its western border remain central to its foreign policy calculus, even as it keeps the door open to dialogue with Kabul and regional partners. With the next round of the Moscow Format still undecided, Pakistan appears set to continue pressing its case in multilateral settings while guarding its eastern frontier.
Source: ARY News