No thaw until Kabul acts against terrorists, Pakistan Foreign Office says

Pakistan is not ready to thaw relations with Afghanistan simply because diplomats are talking again. The Foreign Office says Kabul must provide concrete, verifiable action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army and other groups operating from Afghan territory.

“

Pakistan appreciates China’s constructive and sustained engagement on the issues of Afghanistan.

At his final weekly briefing before leaving the post, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad welcomed China’s continuing engagement, including the visit by Chinese special envoy Yue Xiaoyong. That diplomacy is linked to efforts to revive the Urumqi process and prevent further escalation. But Andrabi said outside facilitation could not substitute for action against what Pakistan describes as terrorist infrastructure.

Pakistan’s position has not changed, he said. Relations depend on “the Afghan Taliban regime taking concrete and verifiable action against TTP, BLA, and other terrorist organisations operating from their soil into Pakistan.” Islamabad also wants “verifiable, written assurances from the Afghan side that their territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.”

“

Progress in Pak-Afghan relations hinges on verifiable, written assurances from the Afghan side that their territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

The Foreign Office pointed to a recent UN monitoring report, which said the Taliban had moved about 2,000 TTP fighters and their families away from areas bordering Pakistan. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had also warned the group against attacks on Pakistan. But the report said Taliban support for the TTP continued as the group intensified attacks and expanded its structure. For Islamabad, relocating fighters does not dismantle the command, training and logistical networks it remains concerned about.

“

Envoys visit academic institutions. This is not unusual.

Andrabi also dismissed suggestions that Afghan ambassador Sardar Shakeb’s appearance at the National Defence University reflected improving ties. “Envoys visit academic institutions. This is not unusual,” he said. “Such interaction is no yardstick for measuring bilateral relations between the two sides. As such, we should not read too much into this interaction.” The briefing also addressed renewed US-Iran hostilities and India’s obligations under the Indus treaty, though the available text provides no further details.

“

Such interaction is no yardstick for measuring bilateral relations between the two sides. As such, we should not read too much into this interaction.