Pakistan lauds Turkiye, Qatar for lowering Islamabad-Kabul differences

Islamabad: Pakistan says it deeply appreciates the sincere efforts made by brotherly Turkiye and Qatar to mediate differences between Islamabad and Kabul on the core issue of terrorism. 

Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan remains committed to resolution of bilateral differences through dialogue; however its main concern of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil needs to be addressed first and foremost.                                         

He said since the Taliban regime came into power in Afghanistan, there has been sharp surge in terrorist attacks from Afghanistan against Pakistan but despite suffering military and civilian causalities, Pakistan exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate.

The spokesperson said Pakistan also tried to positively engage with Afghanistan by offering bilateral trade concessions and humanitarian assistance. However, despite these positive gestures, the Taliban regime has always tried to shy away from taking concrete and verifiable actions and instead tried to confuse terrorism with other irrelevant and hypothetical issues to develop a narrative which absolves them of their commitments and responsibilities.

He said Pakistan's response last month to the consistent attacks emanating from Afghanistan was a manifestation of the will and determination that it will not leave any stone unturned to safeguard its territory and its people.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said TTP and BLA are declared enemies of the State and people of Pakistan and anyone harboring, abetting or financing them is not considered a friend and well-wisher of Pakistan.     

He the people and Armed Forces of Pakistan stand united and resolute to eliminate the menace of terrorism from its soil and take action against its supporters, abettors and financiers.    

The Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated that while Pakistan has never eschewed dialogue with any Government in Kabul, it will not hold dialogue with any terrorist group, be it TTP or BLA.

The spokesperson made it clear that Pakistan is a strong proponent of peace and diplomacy and it was in this spirit and adhering to the advice of brotherly Turkiye and Qatar, Pakistan agreed to engage in talks with Afghan regime mediated by sincere friends.               

Updating about the third round of Pak-Afghan talks, the Foreign Office spokesperson said this time again Pakistan engaged with a constructive approach to focus on establishment of an effective monitoring mechanism.  However, the Taliban regime was only interested in prolonging the temporary ceasefire, without taking concrete and verifiable actions against the TTP and BLA elements present on Afghan soil.           

He said the Taliban regime is constantly trying to portray the TTP and BLA elements as refugees in Afghanistan.  The FO spokesperson clarified that is not a humanitarian or a refugee issue, but a ploy to frame terrorists as refugees.

He detailed that in the aftermath of Pakistan's Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2015, terrorists belonging to the so-called TTP fled to Afghanistan, abetted Afghan Taliban and are now being harbored by the Taliban regime as a payback for their allegiance to them. These same terrorists have established training camps in Afghanistan to launch terrorist activities in Pakistan.            

The spokesperson said Pakistan has demanded the Taliban regime to hand over these terrorists to it but the Taliban regime has repeatedly refused to do so, citing lack of control. Thus, more than being a matter of capability, it has become a matter of intent of Taliban regime.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan is ready to receive any Pakistani living in Afghanistan and their families, provided they are handed over at the border crossings of Torkham or Chaman and not hurled across the border, equipped with weapons and equipment.                                

He said among Afghan Taliban, there are people who do not want a confrontation with Pakistan but there is a strong lobby, with monetary support from foreign actors that has been tasked to stoke tensions.

The spokesperson rejected the misleading propaganda by some elements in Taliban regime that there is some disagreement within Pakistan over Afghan policy. He emphatically stated that there is absolute clarity and unity among the people of Pakistan on the issue.         

The spokesperson said there is an attempt by elements in Taliban regime to instigate Pashtoon nationalism in Pakistan. He added that it is a historical fact that Pashtoons in Pakistan are a vibrant part of the society holding leadership positions across the spectrum of polity and bureaucracy. Therefore, instead of instigating Pashtoonism in Pakistan, it would be wise for Taliban regime to look into its own credentials of inclusivity of different segments of its population in its governance structures.