- Pakistan’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan met the Afghan Interim Foreign Minister.
- The Taliban say their efforts will always be directed towards regional security.
- The solution comes after Islamabad’s concern over cross-border terrorism.
Afghanistan’s Interim Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaki has assured Pakistan that the Afghan Taliban government will not allow anyone to use their motherland against another country.
A statement issued by the Afghan Foreign Ministry said the Taliban government’s top diplomat made the assurance in a meeting with Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani in Kabul.
The bilateral meeting took place on Wednesday and the Pakistani side is yet to issue any official statement on the meeting.
At the meeting, Muttaki congratulated Durrani on taking up the position and expressed hope that his appointment would “further develop political and economic relations between the two countries”. He said that “with security assured in Afghanistan, a good opportunity has emerged to strengthen the economy of both the countries, start major projects and increase trade.”
“Afghans will never harm anyone; We will not allow anyone to use our soil against another country; And our efforts will always be directed at working for regional security and stability,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry quoted Muttaki as saying.
On the other hand, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said that the Pakistani envoy congratulated the Afghan Taliban for “overall stability and security after four decades of war and problems”.
“My efforts will be aimed at enhancing relations between the two countries; The progress of our countries in the field of trade is commendable; Regional security is for everyone’s benefit; And we will cooperate in the security sector,” Durrani was quoted as saying.
The envoy also assured Muttaki that Pakistan was “ready to develop bilateral political, economic and other mechanisms”.
“We will seriously focus on completing the remaining work on the Torkham-Jalalabad road; And that visa facility will be provided for Afghans, especially for medical patients,” Durrani said.
Earlier this week, the United States also reiterated that the Afghan Taliban should ensure that their country is not used for terrorist attacks as Pakistan accuses the neighboring country of harboring the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
,[The] the onus is on the Taliban to stop […] US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a press briefing, Afghanistan will be prevented from being used as a safe haven to launch terrorist attacks.
The development came as top Pakistani army officials said that the safe haven and freedom of action available to terrorists belonging to TTP and other groups in Afghanistan is one of the major factors affecting the security of Islamabad.
At the 258th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the Army said that the banned TTP has gained access to latest weapons due to its sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Terror attacks in Pakistan have increased since the TTP ended its ceasefire agreement with Islamabad in November last year, with the armed forces also stepping up efforts against terrorists.
A statistical report released by independent think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed that terrorist activities in the country have increased by 79% during the first half of 2023.
