ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued a firm appeal to the Afghan Taliban authorities, urging them to dismantle their links with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and uphold their commitments to prevent the group’s activities from operating on Afghan territory. Islamabad warned that any neglect in this regard would be viewed as a hostile act.
The message was delivered through the Afghan interim ambassador in Pakistan, who was summoned to the Foreign Office earlier this week. During the meeting, Pakistani officials emphasized that Afghanistan’s soil must not be used as a launchpad for terrorism. The News reported that the Afghan envoy was clearly instructed that the Taliban regime in Kabul should take concrete steps to prevent terrorist groups from operating within its borders.
This diplomatic move follows recent reports of increased terrorist incidents linked to the TTP and other groups, including the so-called Fitna al-Khawarij militants, who are believed to be sheltered in Afghanistan and financed by Indian intelligence agency RAW, according to Pakistani sources.
Sources revealed that Afghan interim ambassador Sardar Ahmed Shakib was called to the Foreign Office, where Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Assad Gilani conveyed Pakistan’s concerns directly to him.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Muhammad Sadiq Khan—who holds the status of Minister of State—has returned from an unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates, during which he was engaged in discussions related to Afghanistan. He is expected to prepare and submit a comprehensive report to Pakistan’s leadership.
Later this week, Sadiq Khan plans to lead a delegation of senior officials to Kabul, where he will address recent developments and bilateral issues with the Taliban authorities. He is also scheduled to meet Afghan Foreign Minister Mulla Amir Muttaqi, with whom he will discuss Pakistan’s stance and concerns.
In related security developments, reports indicate that 18 terrorists were killed near the Chahbahar region in Iran. Most of those slain—sixteen—are believed to be Afghan nationals, and they reportedly had links to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).The Foreign Office spokesperson, Additional Foreign Secretary Shafqat Ali Khan, was unavailable for comment on these Afghanistan-related matters, as his phone remained unanswered late into the evening.
