Pakistan has called for concerted and coordinated international efforts to counter the growing threat posed by terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory, reiterating that the Afghan Taliban administration cannot escape its responsibility to prevent its soil from being used as a launchpad for terrorist attacks against neighbouring countries.
Addressing the weekly Foreign Office press briefing, Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan delivered a firm message regarding the continuing security challenges emanating from Afghanistan, stressing that misleading narratives, disinformation and attempts to shift blame cannot conceal the presence and activities of terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory.
The spokesperson categorically maintained that the Afghan Taliban administration has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that its territory is not exploited by terrorist organisations to plan, facilitate and launch attacks against Pakistan or any other country. He emphasised that this responsibility cannot be evaded through political statements or narratives that seek to divert international attention from the underlying security threat.
Referring to Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with international partners, Sajjad Haider Khan highlighted that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar had discussed the persistent threat of terrorism originating from Afghanistan with visiting UK Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis during their meeting in Islamabad.
The discussions reflected the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing transnational terrorist threats and strengthening collective security. Both sides reviewed opportunities to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism, law enforcement and regional security, recognising that terrorist networks operating across borders require coordinated responses and sustained international attention.
Earlier, Pakistan and the United Kingdom had also held their annual bilateral Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Islamabad on November 4, during which both sides expressed serious concern over the continued presence and activities of terrorist organisations, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating in and from Afghanistan.
The two countries underscored the urgent need for a stable, peaceful and secure Afghanistan, recognising that the unchecked activities of terrorist networks pose a serious challenge to regional peace and stability. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional cooperation, intelligence coordination and joint efforts against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
The Foreign Office spokesperson also firmly rejected the Afghan Taliban administration’s allegations concerning civilian casualties resulting from Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, describing the claims as baseless and misleading.
He stressed that attempts to generate disinformation or advance misleading narratives cannot obscure the threat posed by terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory, nor absolve the Taliban administration of its responsibility to prevent attacks against Pakistan from being planned and launched from its soil.
Pakistan maintains that its counter-terrorism actions are directed against terrorist infrastructure and armed elements responsible for threatening its national security. The spokesperson’s remarks reiterated Islamabad’s position that no responsible state can remain indifferent to persistent attacks against its citizens and security personnel.
While the Afghan Taliban administration has alleged civilian casualties in Pakistani operations, Pakistan has rejected these allegations. Civilian protection remains a critical issue, with the United Nations having also documented civilian casualties in previous incidents. The need to protect civilian lives and prevent further escalation remains essential.
Pakistan’s call for coordinated international action comes amid increasingly serious regional security concerns and growing recognition among international partners that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory is not merely a bilateral issue but a wider regional and international security challenge.
The recent Pakistan-UK Counter-Terrorism Dialogue and high-level diplomatic engagement with British officials demonstrate Islamabad’s efforts to build broader international understanding and strengthen cooperation against cross-border terrorist networks.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that lasting regional peace requires concrete, verifiable and sustained action against all terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory. Diplomatic engagement must be accompanied by practical measures to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, disrupt operational networks and prevent Afghan soil from being exploited for attacks against other countries.
The international community must recognise that the consequences of allowing terrorist networks to operate unchecked will extend far beyond Afghanistan’s borders. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the entire region and requires meaningful commitments from those exercising authority in Kabul.
