Pakistan welcomes Afghan scholars' pledge but demands written anti-terror assurances
Pakistan
Pakistan hailed Afghan scholars' resolution against using their soil for cross-border attacks as positive, yet insisted on formal written guarantees from Taliban
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Islamabad cautiously welcomed a resolution passed by Afghan religious scholars prohibiting the use of Afghan territory for attacks against other countries, describing it as a "positive development" amid ongoing border tensions.
During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi noted reports of a gathering of around 1,000 scholars at Kabul University who emphasised that Afghanistan's soil should not threaten or harm any nation.
However, Andrabi stressed that similar verbal commitments had been made in the past by the Afghan Taliban regime but were not fulfilled. He reiterated Pakistan's longstanding demand for formal, written guarantees from Kabul to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan land to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
"The resolution does not qualify as a full written assurance," Andrabi said, adding that Islamabad remains committed to the welfare of the Afghan people and stands ready to provide humanitarian assistance as needed.
Strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations
Bilateral ties have deteriorated sharply due to a surge in terrorist incidents in Pakistan, which Islamabad attributes to militants operating from Afghan soil, including Afghan nationals.
Tensions escalated dramatically in October with intense border clashes triggered by an alleged unprovoked assault by Taliban forces and affiliated militants on Pakistani posts on October 12.
Pakistan's response included precision strikes deep into Afghanistan, targeting areas in Kabul and Kandahar provinces, reportedly killing over 200 Taliban and militants. At least 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred in the fighting. A ceasefire has held since, but no lasting agreement has been reached to curb cross-border incursions.
No extradition treaty with UK
In a separate development, Andrabi confirmed there is no formal extradition treaty between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. This comes as Islamabad pursues the return of two fugitives living in the UK: former special assistant to ex-prime minister Imran Khan, Mirza Shahzad Akbar, and retired Major Adil Raja, a YouTuber accused of anti-state activities.
Earlier this month, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi handed extradition documents to UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott, urging immediate action as both individuals are wanted in Pakistan on separate charges. Andrabi noted that extraditions could proceed on a case-by-case basis despite the absence of a treaty.
Akbar, who served in key accountability roles under Imran Khan and has been in exile in London since 2022, faces multiple cases. Raja was convicted in absentia under the Pakistan Army Act in 2023 for social media activities deemed hostile to the state.
