ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Kabul amidst an increase in cross-border attacks, which Pakistan attributes to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists sheltered in Afghanistan.
The surge in militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban took power in 2021 has prompted Pakistan to urge Afghan authorities to halt cross-border attacks and take decisive action against terrorists operating on Pakistani soil.
“I will depart for Afghanistan in the coming days. Afghanistan is our brotherly country,” Dar stated during the inaugural meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Irfan Siddiqui, where Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi was also in attendance.
“We have had and will maintain a very close relationship with Afghanistan. You cannot change your neighbors,” Dar emphasized.
Addressing recent incidents, Dar mentioned attacks on Chinese nationals in Dassu, attributing them to attempts to strain Pakistan-China relations. He noted indications linking these incidents to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which he highlighted operates from Afghanistan.
In the second quarter of this year, Pakistan recorded 380 fatalities and 220 injuries in incidents related to violence, including terror attacks and counter-terror operations, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) Annual Security Report. This included civilian and security forces casualties.
“Security remains a significant challenge between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Dar affirmed, also raising concerns about the resurgence of polio in Pakistan after it was eradicated in 2018.
Discussing economic matters, Dar stated, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clearly stated that we will no longer seek debt from any brotherly country.” He emphasized the need for economic diplomacy to navigate the current financial challenges, adding, “I have worked closely with the government’s economic team to provide support.”
