Pakistan has said the Afghan Taliban regime ignored Islamabad’s concerns over terrorism from Afghan soil and continued its support for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which led to clashes across the border.
Details of a written report presented in the Senate by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar were surfaced on Sunday. The report said Pakistan responded to provocations only in self-defence and targeted terrorist hideouts and infrastructure in border areas. It added that Pakistan did not seek further escalation.
According to the report, Pakistan would not compromise on its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. Dar told the Senate that the Taliban regime must take action against the banned TTP and the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) operating in Afghanistan.
He said firm measures against terrorist organisations present in Afghanistan were essential and urged Kabul to address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.
Dar said militant organisations in Afghanistan also posed a threat to global security. He added that border clashes began after Pakistan’s concerns were ignored and that the Afghan Taliban regime’s support for the banned TTP had also led to violent confrontations.
Pakistan’s response, he said, remained measured and appropriate. Terrorist hideouts and their infrastructure in border regions were targeted.
Dar said Pakistan favoured peace and diplomacy and did not want further tensions. He added that Islamabad believed in constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime.
Pakistan, he said, wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan that lived in peace with its neighbours.
The report said that Pakistan had pursued a policy of continued engagement with the Afghan Taliban regime to secure cooperation against terrorism threats from Afghan territory.
Dar expressed regret that meaningful engagement and consistent efforts had not received a positive response from the Afghan Taliban regime.
He told the Senate that attacks by the banned TTP from Afghanistan had increased after the Afghan Taliban came to power.
Last year, Pakistan faced more than 5,300 incidents of terrorism, Dar said, adding that over 1,200 Pakistanis lost their lives in the violence.
United Nations reports, he said, confirmed the presence of thousands of militants in Afghanistan.
