Pakistan says Afghan inaction fuels bilateral tensions

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has strongly criticised a recent statement by the Afghan Taliban spokesperson, accusing the Taliban government of misleading claims and refusing to acknowledge the key causes behind deteriorating relations between the two neighbouring countries.

In a statement issued in Islamabad, the ministry said the Afghan Taliban spokesperson’s remarks reflected what it described as the highly misleading thinking of the Taliban regime. It said the Afghan leadership continued to blame Pakistan’s policies for strained bilateral relations while ignoring the fundamental issue behind the growing tensions.

According to the ministry, the main cause of the deterioration in relations is the Afghan Taliban government’s continued failure to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks against Pakistan.

The statement stressed that cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan remained the biggest obstacle to normal relations between the two countries. It said the Taliban leadership must recognise its responsibility to prevent its territory from being used for activities targeting Pakistan.

The ministry maintained that Kabul could no longer ignore its obligations to stop terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil. It added that Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary measures to eliminate threats to its national security.

The statement further rejected what it described as accusations and hollow assurances from the Afghan Taliban, saying such an approach would not help resolve the ongoing crisis between Islamabad and Kabul.

Reiterating Pakistan’s position, the ministry said the country’s stance on terrorism was clear and uncompromising, adding that terrorism remained a red line for Pakistan.

It emphasised that the protection and security of Pakistani citizens could not be compromised under any circumstances. The statement also warned that Pakistan’s determination to safeguard its people and territory should never be mistaken for weakness.

The ministry said the Afghan Taliban government’s continued refusal to take effective action against terrorism was the fundamental obstacle to restoring normal relations between the two countries.

It further warned the Afghan leadership that Pakistan would not allow its national security to be jeopardised by the Taliban government’s inaction, delays or failure to fulfil its commitments.

The statement comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security concerns and Islamabad’s repeated demands for Kabul to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.