ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that terrorism originating from Afghan territory remains the primary obstacle to improved relations between Islamabad and Kabul, urging the Afghan Taliban leadership to take effective action against militant groups operating from its soil.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said a recent post by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson overlooked the fundamental reasons behind tensions between the two neighbouring countries. It maintained that the Afghan Taliban leadership was ignoring the root cause of the deterioration in bilateral relations.
The ministry reiterated that Pakistan's position on terrorism was unequivocal, describing it as a red line and stressing that the safety of Pakistani citizens could not be compromised under any circumstances.
Security concerns
According to the statement, terrorist activities carried out against Pakistan from Afghan territory constitute a major barrier to normalising relations between the two countries.
It said the Afghan Taliban government was responsible for eliminating terrorist safe havens on its soil and preventing militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan.
The ministry identified the Afghan Taliban government's continued reluctance to take effective measures against terrorism as one of the major reasons behind persistent tensions between the two sides.
It further argued that exchanging accusations and offering what it described as hollow assurances on an issue as serious as terrorism would not help resolve the crisis.
The Afghan Taliban leadership, it said, must acknowledge its responsibility and take concrete steps to address the security threats emanating from its territory rather than relying on statements and verbal commitments.
Pakistan's position
The ministry also made clear that Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary measures to eliminate threats to its national security, adding that any such action would be carried out in accordance with international law.
It stressed that Pakistan's security could not be left dependent on what it described as the Afghan Taliban government's inaction, delaying tactics or misplaced priorities.
Protecting Pakistani citizens remained the state's foremost responsibility, the statement said, warning against interpreting the country's commitment to national security as a sign of weakness.
Reiterating its demand for practical measures, the ministry called on the Afghan Taliban leadership to move beyond public statements and assurances and take effective action to end terrorism targeting Pakistan from Afghan soil.