Pakistan has emphasized that future bilateral trade, economic cooperation, and diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan are contingent upon the elimination of militant threats emanating from Afghan territory. Authorities in Islamabad have highlighted security as a non-negotiable prerequisite for normalizing relations and resuming commercial activity with the Taliban-led administration in Kabul.
Speaking on the growing security concerns, Jam Kamal Khan, Pakistan’s Minister of Trade and Commerce, stated that Islamabad will not compromise on national security in any diplomatic or trade engagement. He described recent militant attacks, allegedly originating from Afghan soil, as unacceptable and warned that regional peace and commerce cannot progress while cross-border militancy persists.
Minister Khan urged Afghan authorities to take immediate measures to prevent armed groups from using Afghan territory as a base for attacks against Pakistan. He noted that Islamabad has repeatedly raised these concerns, providing supporting evidence to highlight the security risks.
“The escalation of militant incidents in recent months has significantly increased the threat to public safety in Pakistan’s border regions,” Khan said. “Counterterrorism action is essential before any meaningful expansion of bilateral trade and dialogue can take place.”
While reiterating Pakistan’s support for dialogue and economic engagement with Afghanistan, Khan stressed that progress in other areas remains impossible as long as militants allegedly maintain safe havens and operational freedom across the border.
The prolonged closure of key border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, now exceeding four months, has caused substantial financial losses for traders on both sides. Islamabad warned that unless concrete security measures are implemented, border tensions and trade disruptions are likely to continue, further undermining fragile regional economic relations.
Pakistan’s stance underscores the critical linkage between security and economic development in South Asia, emphasizing that long-term stability and cooperation will require concrete steps to address cross-border militancy.
