Key Points
- Islamabad demands action against terrorists operating from Afghan soil.
- Civil and military leadership remain aligned on Afghanistan policy.
- Pakistan says national security remains its foremost priority.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security officials have rejected a claim by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that Islamabad is preparing to reopen visa facilities for Afghan citizens on humanitarian grounds, saying no such decision has been taken and there are currently no plans to restore the facilities.
According to Pakistani security officials, the government has not announced any move to resume visa issuance for Afghan nationals and does not intend to do so in the immediate future.
They said Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan was being pursued with the consensus of the country’s civil and military leadership, particularly amid continuing concerns over cross-border terrorism and the presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
“Afghanistan must take effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. Till then, all kinds of engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended.” – Security official
“Afghanistan must take effective action against terrorist groups operating from its soil. Till then, all kinds of engagement with Afghanistan will remain suspended,” a security official told WE News English.
The official said Pakistan’s primary consideration was the protection of its citizens, adding that humanitarian considerations could not be allowed to compromise national security.
“Pakistan’s first priority is the safety and security of its own citizens. Humanitarian considerations cannot come at the cost of national security,” the official said.
Another official maintained that Islamabad could not afford to restart visa facilities while it continued to face cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan.
“Amidst continued cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and continued reluctance of the Taliban regime to stop that, Pakistan cannot afford security risks by reopening or restarting visa facilities.” – Security official
“Amidst continued cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and continued reluctance of the Taliban regime to stop that, Pakistan cannot afford security risks by reopening or restarting visa facilities.”
The official further urged Afghans to demand decisive action from the Taliban authorities against terrorists organisations operating from the country.
“The safety and security of every single Pakistani citizen is far more important than entire Afghanistan,” the security official warned.
They security officials also held the Taliban regime responsible for prioritising its relationship with terrorist groups over the economic and social welfare of Afghanistan.
“It is unfortunate that the Taliban regime prioritises sponsoring and supporting terrorist brothers in arms over the welfare and progress of the entire Afghan nation,” the official said.
Pakistan demands action
The latest statement comes amid Pakistan’s broader tightening of its policy towards undocumented Afghan nationals.
In June, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry directed authorities to arrest Afghan nationals residing in the country without valid visas from July 10, as part of the government’s ongoing implementation of its Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan.
Pakistan’s official visa policy, meanwhile, continues to provide specific categories through which Afghan nationals can obtain visas, including business, employment, study, marriage and medical purposes, subject to applicable conditions.
The Foreign Office also clarified in July that Pakistan had not expelled Afghan nationals holding valid visas or lawful travel authorisation.
TTP sanctuaries fuel tensions
The central dispute is Pakistan’s demand that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is using Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad says the Taliban authorities have failed to take effective action against the group. Kabul, on the other hand, has persistently being paying no heed to Pakistan’s genuine demands related to its national security.
Relations deteriorated sharply after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Islamabad had initially expected a more cooperative relationship with Kabul, but ties progressively worsened as TTP continued exploiting sanctuaries and networks inside Afghanistan. The dispute has since expanded from terrorism to border clashes, diplomatic confrontation, trade disruptions and restrictions on cross-border movement.
