Pakistan on Friday underscored the grave threat posed to regional peace and stability by Afghanistan-based terrorist groups, terming them a shared challenge that demands collective action. “Groups like Fitna Al-Khwarij represent a common danger to the security of our region and must be countered through coordinated efforts,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at the weekly media briefing. The government uses the term to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The spokesman was responding to questions about reports of Pakistani strikes across the border and comments by Taliban acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, who alleged that Islamabad blames Kabul for its own security shortcomings.
Rejecting the remarks, Shafqat Ali Khan described them as “an exercise in irony,” adding that the persistence of cross-border terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan has been highlighted repeatedly in United Nations Security Council reports. He said the seriousness of the issue cannot be downplayed by mere statements.
The FO maintained that Pakistani security forces and law enforcement agencies conduct targeted operations in border regions to protect citizens, stressing these are based on actionable intelligence and carried out with precision. “Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains committed to dialogue and cooperation,” the spokesman added.
Afghan Repatriation Policy
Addressing questions about the expulsion of undocumented Afghans in the aftermath of last weekend’s earthquake in Afghanistan, the spokesman reaffirmed that the repatriation policy will continue without pause.
“This is a sovereign decision regarding who we allow to stay in our country. Any individual residing illegally will be repatriated,” he said, while pointing out that Pakistan already maintains a liberal visa regime. He noted that Pakistan issues a wide range of visas, including visit, business, family, education, and medical visas, with on-arrival facilitation for urgent medical cases.
He further urged Germany to expedite the relocation of Afghans it had pledged to resettle following the Taliban takeover. “Several deadlines have already lapsed, and we hope Berlin will move with seriousness on its commitment,” he remarked.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
On a separate query regarding criticism of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the spokesperson said the meeting in Tianjin was successful in promoting multilateralism, regional peace, security, and prosperity. He emphasised that the SCO is not directed against any country, but rather seeks cooperation and common development among member states.
