Pakistan asks Afghanistan to act decisively against terrorists crossing the border

Pakistan has reiterated its concerns over terrorism to Afghanistan, asking Kabul to either curb extremist activities or fully cooperate with Islamabad in addressing cross-border threats.

The statement came from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a visit to Bannu on Saturday, where he was accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir to meet soldiers injured in recent military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The operations, conducted between September 11 and 13, resulted in the deaths of 35 militants and 12 soldiers.

According to the military’s media wing, ISPR, intelligence assessments confirm Afghan nationals’ involvement in these attacks, and the use of Afghan territory by TTP-linked militants remains a “grave concern.” Pakistan has urged the interim Afghan government to ensure its soil is not used for cross-border attacks.

During his Bannu visit, the prime minister highlighted that Afghan nationals crossing the border have been involved in recent terrorist incidents. He stressed that the swift repatriation of illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan is essential.

“The nation rejects politicization and misleading narratives on terrorism,” he added, reaffirming Pakistan’s unity against militancy.

Pakistan has faced a renewed surge in militancy in recent years, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022, has repeatedly vowed to intensify attacks on security forces and law enforcement agencies.

In August, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen joint counterterrorism efforts, boost regional economic integration, and extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan during the Sixth Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Kabul.

During the high-level meeting, attended by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Pakistan reiterated its call for Afghanistan to take decisive measures against terrorist groups using its territory to launch attacks across the border.