KEY POINTS
- Defence Minister asks Afghanistan to prevent cross-border attacks
- Pakistan reiterates zero tolerance for terror groups using Afghan soil
- Islamabad, Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran jointly stress Afghan sovereignty and anti-terror coordination
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday called on the Taliban authorities in Kabul to take “decisive and verifiable action” against terrorist outfits operating from Afghan territory, urging immediate cooperation to end cross-border militancy and safeguard regional stability.
Addressing the National Assembly, Asif said Pakistan has “exercised utmost restraint” despite repeated attacks launched from across the border by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks.
The defence minister warned that continued inaction by the Afghan interim government could undermine bilateral ties and regional peace.
“Afghanistan’s soil must not be used against Pakistan under any pretext. The Taliban government must fulfill its counterterrorism commitments made in Doha and Moscow,” the minister asserted, adding that Pakistan remains committed to regional peace but “will not compromise its security.”
Regional powers seek terror-free Afghanistan
Defence minister Asif’s statement came days after Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran reaffirmed in Moscow their shared resolve to ensure a “stable, sovereign, and terrorism-free Afghanistan free from external interference.”
The quadrilateral meeting, held on the sidelines of the Moscow Format Consultations, underscored the need for coordinated regional efforts against militant groups using Afghan soil as a safe haven.
A joint communiqué issued after the meeting had expressed “grave concern” over the presence of groups such as TTP, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and others threatening regional security.
The participating countries agreed to intensify intelligence sharing, enhance border cooperation, and strengthen multilateral counterterrorism mechanisms.
Pakistan’s position and expectations
Reiterating Islamabad’s stance, Asif told lawmakers that Pakistan has extended diplomatic engagement to the Taliban leadership to address mutual concerns through dialogue. “We continue to support Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence,” he said, “but the responsibility for preventing terrorist infiltration lies squarely with those in control of Afghan territory.”
He added that Pakistan has borne “immense human and economic costs” in the fight against terrorism and would take all necessary measures to protect its citizens and territorial integrity.
Regional consensus against ‘external interference’
In Moscow, the participating nations — including China, Iran, and Russia — jointly rejected any form of foreign military presence or intervention in Afghanistan, describing it as “unacceptable and detrimental to regional peace.”
They also encouraged economic cooperation, trade connectivity, and humanitarian assistance to help Afghanistan achieve sustainable development.
