ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to honour their commitment of not allowing Afghanistan’s territory to be used for terrorism against other countries, calling on Kabul to play its due role for peace and stability in the region and beyond.
In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Office said Pakistan is deeply concerned at the “unwarranted aggression by the Afghan Taliban, Fitna-e-Khawarij (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) and Fitna-e-Hindustan (terrorist groups operating in Balochistan) along the Pak-Afghan border on the night of 11-12 October.”
“Such unprovoked actions aimed at destabilising the Pak-Afghan border belie the overall spirit of peaceful neighbourhood and cooperative relations between the two brotherly countries,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office added.
Fitna-al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while Fitna-al-Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist groups in Balochistan.
“Pakistan, exercising its right of self-defence, not only effectively repulsed the assaults all along the border, but also inflicted heavy losses on Taliban forces and affiliated Khwarjis, in terms of men, material and infrastructure,” the statement said.
It said these infrastructures were used to plan and facilitate terrorist attacks against Pakistan. In our targeted and precise response, all possible measures were taken to prevent any collateral damage and protect civilians.
The statement noted Pakistan greatly values dialogue and diplomacy and a mutually beneficial relationship with Afghanistan. “At the same time, the Government of Pakistan continues to closely monitor the situation and would take all possible measures to safeguard its territory and the lives of its people,” it added. The statement warned that any further provocations would be met with an unwavering and befitting response.
The Foreign Office said the fight against terrorism is a common cause and instead of shifting responsibilities, the Taliban regime should honour its commitment of not allowing its territory to be used for terrorism against other countries, and should play its due role for peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan strongly rejects assertions and insinuations by the Interim Afghan Foreign Minister in India to divert attention from the presence of terrorist elements in Afghanistan.
It stated that by making these baseless assertions, the Taliban regime cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities towards regional peace and stability.
It maintained that the continued presence of terrorist elements on Afghan soil and the freedom of activities enjoyed by them in Afghanistan are well documented in UN Monitoring Team reports.
It emphasised that Pakistan has repeatedly shared its concerns about the presence of Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan operating from Afghan soil. Pakistan expects concrete and verifiable actions against these terrorist elements by the Taliban regime.
It highlighted the fact that Pakistan, in the spirit of good neighbourliness, Islamic brotherhood, and humanity, has generously hosted around four million Afghans for more than four decades. Pakistan will take all actions to regulate the presence of Afghan nationals on its territory, in accordance with international norms and laws.
The Foreign Office reiterated that Pakistan is desirous of a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan and expects the Taliban regime to act responsibly, honour its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil.
