Tarar urges Afghan govt to abandon militant mindset

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has called on Afghanistan’s interim government to abandon what he described as a “militant mindset” and adopt a state-oriented approach to its relations with Pakistan.

Addressing a seminar in Islamabad on Afghanistan and the prospects for peace on Tuesday, Tarar said the approach of the Afghan interim government was at the centre of the problems affecting relations between the two neighbouring countries. He described the situation as a complex challenge that required a long-term and sustainable solution.

Tarar said Pakistan and Afghanistan would remain neighbours and shared historical, geographical and economic links. However, he noted that relations between the two countries had remained turbulent over the years.

The minister said Pakistan wanted peaceful coexistence with Afghanistan and questioned whether there was currently sufficient political will on the Afghan side to achieve lasting peace. He maintained that Islamabad had repeatedly attempted to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.

According to Tarar, Pakistani delegations had travelled to Afghanistan for discussions, while countries including Qatar, Türkiye and China had also facilitated talks between the two sides.

He said Pakistan had repeatedly raised concerns with Kabul over the alleged presence of militant groups and the use of Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad has maintained that militant sanctuaries across the border remain a major security concern. Afghan authorities have rejected accusations that they allow their territory to be used against Pakistan.

Tarar said the goal should be to establish a sustainable framework for peace and peaceful coexistence. He also linked regional stability with economic development, saying improved security could create opportunities for trade routes connecting Central Asia with Pakistan through Afghanistan.

He further raised concerns about human rights in Afghanistan, saying fundamental rights were being denied to sections of Afghan society. He argued that addressing security and social challenges was essential for reducing tensions between the Afghan population and the interim government.

The minister also referred to recent cross-border tensions and Pakistan’s military actions. Islamabad has said its recent strikes inside Afghanistan targeted locations linked to drone launches and storage, while Afghan authorities have disputed Pakistan’s account and reported civilian casualties.