The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday reiterated that Pakistan is not seeking any war with Afghanistan and only wants the Taliban regime to take concrete action against terror outfits operating from their soil.
In a weekly press briefing, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan would neither shut the door on diplomacy nor open the door to war between the two brotherly countries. “Diplomacy continues even in wars. Diplomacy continues even during skirmishes,” he said, adding Islamabad wishes for the peace and prosperity of “our Afghan brothers and sisters.”
On a recent report of the United Nations Security Council that had raised concerns over the spread of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), he said the document extensively supported Pakistan’s narrative, highlighting that the interim Afghan government continued to provide a permissive environment to terrorist outfits.
Andrabi noted the report had highlighted that the TTP enjoyed greater operational liberty and support in Afghanistan, consequently enabling their attacks on territory inside Pakistan. “The report corroborates Pakistan’s position that TTP resurgence is linked to the post-2021 interim government takeover. So this is an important report, and we follow it up with the relevant U.N. secretariat and departments and also with the members of the international community, particularly the members of the Security Council and other relevant stakeholders,” he added.
To a question, the spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would attend the inaugural meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on Feb. 19, adding Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar would accompany him. “We have joined the Board of Peace in good faith … We are in it, not in isolation, not as one voice, but as a collective voice of eight Islamic Arab countries … So our collective voice is resonating in the Board of Peace and we will continue to strive for the right and progress and prosperity of the people of Palestine,” he said.
On the statement issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry regarding last week’s suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad, Andrabi said it had reflected “an undertone of justification of terrorism on the pretext of one thing or another.” He said the statement appeared to go against India’s stated position of opposing terrorism in all forms. “We conclude from these statements that India may oppose terrorism in all its forms, but it supports when it takes place against Pakistan,” he added.
To another question on Pakistan’s role in talks between Iran and the U.S., the spokesperson said Islamabad supported all initiatives aimed at dialogue and diplomacy to settle all outstanding issues, including that of nuclear talks. He further said Pakistan encouraged the “relevant parties” to engage directly to resolve their differences.
Regarding Pakistan’s decision to play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, Andrabi said it reflected magnanimity resulting from contacts made by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.