ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has praised the governments of Turkiye and Qatar for their sincere efforts to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul amid heightened tensions over cross-border terrorism.
In a statement to the media, the Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan values the role of its brotherly nations in promoting peace and dialogue but emphasized that terrorism emanating from Afghan soil remains its primary concern.
He noted that terrorist attacks targeting Pakistan have increased sharply since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Despite suffering both military and civilian losses, Pakistan has shown restraint and avoided retaliation.
The spokesperson added that Islamabad has made multiple goodwill gestures, including offering trade concessions and humanitarian assistance, but the Taliban regime has failed to take concrete and verifiable action against terrorist networks.
He said Pakistan’s recent actions in response to consistent cross-border attacks reflect its firm resolve to protect its people and territory.
Declaring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as enemies of the state, he stressed that any party harboring or supporting such groups cannot be considered a friend of Pakistan.
Reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to diplomacy, the spokesperson clarified that while Pakistan remains open to dialogue with the Afghan government, it will not negotiate with terrorist organizations.
He said Pakistan engaged constructively in the latest round of talks to develop an effective monitoring mechanism, but the Taliban side focused only on extending a temporary ceasefire without taking verifiable steps against militants sheltering in Afghanistan.
He rejected the Taliban regime’s claim that these militants are refugees, calling it an attempt to disguise terrorists as displaced persons.
The spokesperson explained that many TTP fighters fled to Afghanistan after Pakistan’s 2015 Operation Zarb-e-Azb and are now being hosted by the Taliban, who provide them with safe havens to launch attacks.
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