Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that terrorism remains the key impediment to improving bilateral relations with the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, citing persistent security challenges and cross-border threats.
Speaking at the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan reiterated that Pakistan has made consistent diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with Kabul. However, he noted that the prevailing security situation continues to pose a serious challenge to bilateral progress. “We have tried to improve relations, but the main hurdle, as is evident, remains the security situation and the sanctuaries terrorists benefit from,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing concerns in Islamabad over militant activity allegedly originating from Afghan territory. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to prevent extremist groups, particularly the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from using Afghan soil to carry out attacks across the border.
Khan’s statement underscores Pakistan’s longstanding position that effective counter terrorism cooperation is essential for fostering regional peace and stability.
The Taliban authorities, on their part, have rejected Pakistan’s concerns, insisting that Afghanistan’s territory is not being used for hostile actions against neighbouring states. Kabul maintains that such allegations are politically driven and not reflective of ground realities.
Despite shared interests in regional security and economic cooperation, both sides have yet to make significant headway in resolving differences over intelligence sharing and joint efforts against militancy.
Observers believe that enhanced coordination and mutual trust are critical for overcoming these challenges. Analysts suggest that for relations to meaningfully advance, both countries must engage in credible, result-oriented dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of cross-border insecurity.
