“For four years, Pakistan has called on the Taliban to take decisive, effective action against terrorist equipment”
Pakistan has stressed that it does not want to escalate tensions with Afghanistan and remains hopeful of a “positive outcome” from the next round of talks with the Afghan Taliban scheduled to begin on November 6, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said at a press briefing on Friday.
He recalled that the second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime in the presence of mediators was concluded in Istanbul last night.
“Pakistan participated in the Istanbul talks, which started on October 25, in good spirit and with positive intention,” he added.
The negotiations were scheduled to last two days. “However, in an attempt to reach an amicable agreement with the Taliban regime, the Pakistani side continued negotiations in earnest for four days.”
He stressed that Pakistan has no intention of further escalating hostilities, but “expects the Afghan Taliban regime to honor its commitment to the international community and address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by taking concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist entities, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan”.
The term Fitna-al-Khawarij is the term designated by the state to refer to the banned militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna-al-Hindustan is used to describe Balochistan-based groups, highlighting the state’s claims of India’s involvement in terrorism and efforts to destabilize Pakistan.
Andrabi said Pakistan had been urging the Afghan Taliban for the past four years to take “decisive and effective measures” against terrorist outfits present on Afghan soil.
“We have repeatedly shared credible information about the presence of top leaders of Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan on Afghan soil with the Taliban regime. However, despite repeated assurances in the past, there has been an increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan from Afghanistan.”
He said the “consistent and total disregard” of Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns by the Afghan Taliban over the past four years and the “unprovoked aggression against Pakistan with the support of Fitna-al-Khawarij on October 11 and 12 and later on October 14 and 15 led to violent exchanges across the international border”.
“Pakistan responded decisively to Afghan provocation with the aim of destabilizing the border area, facilitating terrorism and furthering the nefarious designs of Fitna-al-Khawarij”. Pakistan will respond resolutely if the provocations continue in future, he further warned.
The spokesman reaffirmed that “the government and the armed forces are ready to take all possible measures to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty and ensure the safety and security of its people”.
The spokesman elaborated on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia with a high-level delegation to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh.
During the visit, the Prime Minister met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held important talks with the Saudi Defense Minister.
The delegation also held telephonic discussions with foreign ministers of various countries covering bilateral issues and investment opportunities.
Pak-Afghan tensions
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire during talks in Doha, both sides said on October 19, after a week of fierce border clashes, the worst violence between the South Asian neighbors since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021.
The two countries met again in Istanbul on October 25 to exhaust “detailed matters”. But talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul failed to yield any breakthrough on Islamabad’s key demand for a clear action plan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from Afghan soil.
Read more: Pakistan agrees to resume talks with Afghan Taliban at hosts’ request
Radio Pakistan confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan has agreed to resume talks with the Afghan Taliban at the request of the host countries, a move that will keep the Pakistani delegation in Istanbul longer than planned.
The decision was taken to give the negotiation process another chance, but that Pakistan’s core demand – that Afghan territory not be used to carry out terrorism against Pakistan – will remain central to any renewed discussion.
