KEY POINTS
- Pakistan protests the India-Afghanistan Joint Statement, calling references to Jammu and Kashmir a violation of UN resolutions.
- Islamabad rejected Kabul’s claim that terrorism is Pakistan’s internal issue.
- Pakistan says Afghan-based banned terrorist groups are carrying out attacks on its soil.
- Pakistan urges the Afghan government to stop its territory from being used by anti-Pakistan terrorist groups.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday expressed strong reservations over the India-Afghanistan Joint Statement issued on Friday in New Delhi, rejecting references to Jammu and Kashmir and condemning remarks by Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister that described terrorism as Pakistan’s internal problem.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, in a statement, said such assertions violate UN Security Council resolutions and ignore evidence of terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan. Pakistan conveyed concerns to Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan who was called to Foreign Office on Saturday night, the statement added. The reservations were conveyed to Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan by the Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia & Afghanistan) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Office stated.
The India-Afghanistan Joint Statement was issued at the conclusion of Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India.
Pakistan conveyed that the reference to Jammu and Kashmir as part of India is in clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Joint Statement is highly insensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office stated.
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Pakistan raises its concerns on the elements of India-Afghanistan Joint Statement and Remarks by Afghan Acting Foreign Minister in India
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 11, 2025
Pakistan also strongly rejected the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister’s assertion that terrorism is Pakistan’s internal problem. “Pakistan has repeatedly shared details regarding the presence of Fitna-e-Khawarij (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) and Fitna-e-Hindustan (Balochistan Liberation Army) terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan with support from elements within Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office added.
Pakistan emphasised that by deflecting the responsibility of controlling terrorism towards Pakistan cannot absolve the Interim Afghan Government of its obligations towards ensuring peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Pakistan also highlighted that in the spirit of good neighbourliness and Islamic brotherhood, Pakistan has generously hosted nearly four million Afghans for over four decades. “With peace gradually returning to Afghanistan, it is time for unauthorised Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan to return to their country,” the Foreign Office stated.
The Foreign Office stated that like all other countries and in line with international norms and practices, Pakistan has the right to regulate the presence of foreign nationals residing inside its territory.
At the same time, along with repatriation of Afghan nationals, Pakistan has also been generously issuing medical and study visas to address the medical and educational needs of Afghan nationals, the Foreign Office highlighted.
“In the spirit of Islamic brotherhood and good neighbourly relations, Pakistan will continue to extend humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office maintained.
“Pakistan is desirous of seeing a peaceful, stable, regionally connected and prosperous Afghanistan. Accordingly, Pakistan has extended all possible trade, economic and connectivity facilitation to Afghanistan. Such measures are aimed at promoting cooperation and socio-economic development of the two countries,” the Foreign Office added.
The Foreign Office emphasised that Pakistan remains committed to safeguarding its citizens and urged the Interim Afghan Government to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.
“The Government of Pakistan has the responsibility to take all possible measures for the safety and security of its people. Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan Government to play its due role in supporting Pakistan to achieve this noble objective by taking concrete measures to prevent its territory from being used by Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorist elements against Pakistan,” the Foreign Office maintained.
