ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday emphasized the urgent need to end cross-border infiltrations from Afghanistan and reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance on its fight against terrorism.
Addressing the media, Asif called on the Taliban government in Kabul to stop offering refuge to extremist elements. He stated that infiltration from Afghan territory must cease entirely, reaffirming that Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to combating terrorism.
He urged the Afghan authorities to provide clear assurances that their soil will not be used for orchestrating or launching attacks against Pakistan, stressing that bilateral relations cannot see meaningful progress without such measures.
Asif also highlighted the importance of any third-party mediator prioritizing Pakistan’s security and national interests. He pointed out that ensuring these interests must be a core responsibility of any mediator involved.
The minister firmly warned against the presence of militant groups, including TTP and BLA, on Pakistani soil, asserting that acts of terrorism within the country will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
These statements were made against the backdrop of escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and ongoing calls in Islamabad for decisive Afghan action against insurgent strongholds.
