Islamabad says regional connectivity is only after Kabul acts against terror safe havens
ISLAMABAD:
The State Department made it clear Friday that no meaningful trade or economic engagement with Afghanistan can take place as long as the Afghan Taliban regime continues to harbor and support terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.
The statement came in response to remarks by the Taliban regime, which instructed local businessmen to do business with countries other than Pakistan and warned that they would not be responsible for any consequences if traders continued their dealings with Pakistan.
At his weekly news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi stressed that Pakistan remains committed to regional trade and connectivity, but these efforts cannot coexist with cross-border terrorism.
“Pakistan is a strong advocate of regional trade and connectivity,” he said.
“We extended a number of trade concessions to Afghanistan, but these positive gestures have not been reciprocated by the Afghan Taliban regime, which continues to harbor and actively support elements that commit terrorism against Pakistan from Afghan soil.”
The spokesman clarified that human life takes precedence over commercial and economic considerations. “Trade and transit with Afghanistan is possible only if the Afghan Taliban regime takes clear steps against anti-Pakistani elements operating from its territory.”
The recent terrorist attacks in Islamabad and Wana have highlighted the seriousness of the threat emanating from Afghan soil.
Referring to the attacks in Wana and Islamabad, the spokesman said: “Both incidents had deep Afghan fingerprints. In the Islamabad attack, an Afghan national was the suicide bomber. So let this reality sink in Kabul.” He stressed that Pakistan will take all necessary precautions to protect its people and will continue to hold Afghanistan accountable for terrorists operating from its territory.
The spokesman also spoke about Pakistan’s ongoing engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime through dialogue and mediation. While Pakistan remains committed to resolving bilateral differences peacefully, Andrabi warned that dialogue cannot continue without concrete action against groups like the TTP and Fitnah-Al-Khawaraj (FaK).
“Pakistan’s core concern, terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, must be addressed first and foremost. We cannot be ignorant of the loss of Pakistanis at the hands of Afghan nationals and these terrorist elements,” he said.
On claims that the Afghan Taliban are helpless against the TTP, the spokesman dismissed such statements as untenable. “The argument that they are helpless against the TTP is not credible. The Taliban regime claims control over its entire territory, yet attacks on Pakistan continue to be orchestrated from Afghan soil,” he said, stressing that Afghan nationals involved in these attacks bear the responsibility along with the groups they host.
The spokesman noted that Pakistan and the US share multifaceted cooperation across defense, trade, economic and social sectors and efforts are underway to further strengthen this comprehensive partnership.
In addition, the spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty arbitration with India. After the recent court ruling, he reiterated that India’s decision to suspend participation in the neutral expert procedure is illegal and does not prevent the process from moving forward.
He condemned India’s handling of the Red Fort blast in Delhi and the subsequent crackdown on Kashmiri citizens, describing it as a politically motivated diversion. The spokesman noted, “India continues to use terrorism as a bogey to divert attention from its internal challenges while targeting Muslims, particularly Kashmiris, in a systematic campaign of repression.”
