Islamabad: Foreign Office has once again stated that Pakistan is determined to take every possible action to safeguard its security and the security of its people. At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi highlighted the surge in terrorist attacks emanating from Afghan soil since the Taliban regime came to power in Afghanistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, Andrabi emphasized that despite suffering military and civilian casualties, Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint and refrained from escalating the situation. He expressed Pakistan’s expectation that the Taliban regime would eventually control these attacks and take concrete actions against groups like the TTP and Fitna al Khawarij. Pakistan has attempted to engage positively with the Afghan Taliban regime, offering bilateral trade and humanitarian assistance. However, these gestures have been met with hollow promises and inaction from the Taliban.

The spokesperson declared TTP, Fitna-al-Khawarij, BLA, and Fitna-al-Hindustan as enemies of the state of Pakistan. He stressed that anyone supporting these groups is not considered a friend of Pakistan. Andrabi lamented the Taliban regime’s attempts to misrepresent terrorism issues as humanitarian crises and to portray terrorist groups as refugees. He clarified that Pakistan is willing to receive any Pakistanis living in Afghanistan, provided they are handed over at the border properly.

Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan has never avoided dialogue with any government in Kabul but will not engage in talks with terrorist groups such as TTP or BLA. He acknowledged the mediation efforts of Qatar and Turkiye. Regarding trade, Andrabi stated that Pakistan supports regional trade and connectivity and has extended trade concessions to Afghanistan. However, the Taliban regime’s continued support for anti-Pakistan elements hampers progress, and transit trade will only be possible if the Taliban takes clear action against these elements.