Afghan soil continues to be used for terrorism against Pakistan: FO

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that terrorists continue to use Afghan soil for attacks against Pakistan.

In the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that Pakistan’s policy regarding border closure and trade with Afghanistan remains unchanged. The reason, he said, is the Afghan Taliban’s support for terrorists. “The Taliban should also stop those Afghan citizens who are involved in terrorism inside Pakistan,” he added.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan has suspended trade with Afghanistan because Afghan authorities continue to support terrorists. “Afghan territory is repeatedly being used for terrorism against Pakistan. Afghan citizens are continuously carrying out attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil.”

He said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is on a visit to the European Union, where he took part in the 4th EU Indo-Pacific Forum and held meetings with EU officials.

“Our embassy in Afghanistan is open, and Afghanistan’s embassy here is also functioning. Communication channels remain active between both missions.”

According to the spokesperson, Dar also met the Hungarian foreign minister, and both sides signed a memorandum of understanding regarding scholarships for students in Hungary. In addition, Dar separately met the foreign ministers of Denmark, Slovenia and the Netherlands, he said.

He said that before visiting the European Union, Dar was in Moscow from November 17 to 18, where he attended the SCO Heads of Government meeting.

In Moscow, he also held meetings with the Russian president, prime minister and foreign minister.

During the SCO meeting, he discussed relations with Afghanistan, after which the organisation issued a joint declaration on economic cooperation, the FO spokesperson said.

The spokesperson condemned the aggression by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

He said that a large number of arrests have been made in India following the Red Fort bombings, most of whom belong to Indian-occupied Kashmir. India is continually attempting to alter the demographic composition of the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“Pakistan calls on the international community, the United Nations and other global forums to take notice of human rights violations in the occupied territory,” he said.

Responding to the death sentence handed to former Bangladeshi prime minister Hasina Wajid, the spokesperson said that it is an internal matter of Bangladesh, which has its own constitution and legal system.

The spokesperson further said that Pakistan welcomes the statement by the Turkish president sending a delegation. The visit of the Turkish delegation has been delayed due to the vice-president’s foreign engagements. Several countries, he said, have suggested Pakistan to facilitate mediation on Afghanistan.

He said that Pakistan considers credible the US president’s statement urging the Indian prime minister to avoid war.

The US Congress report, he clarified, is a research-based document prepared from open sources.

The spokesperson said Pakistan appreciates the role of the US president. He said that Pakistan has clarified its position on voting in favour of the US-backed resolution on Gaza, while China has clarified its own position for abstaining. “There are several points of similarity in Pakistan and China’s respective positions on the issue,” he said.