Pakistan is prepared to hold state-level talks with Afghanistan, provided any dialogue produces practical and verifiable measures to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against Pakistan, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
At its weekly briefing in Islamabad, the Foreign Office spokesperson rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson that Pakistan was interfering in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson stressed that Afghanistan must ensure that its territory is not used for terrorist activities directed against Pakistan. Islamabad also expects the Afghan interim government to fulfil its international obligations under the Doha framework.
Pakistan wants Afghanistan to prevent anti-Pakistan groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), from using Afghan soil, the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson said Pakistan remained willing to establish institutional channels of communication with Afghanistan, but stressed that such engagement must be linked to verifiable counter-terrorism measures.
“Pakistan is ready for state-level talks with Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said, adding that Islamabad wanted effective border management and demonstrable action against militant activity.
The Foreign Office stressed that Pakistan would judge any future dialogue by concrete progress rather than talks alone.
The government attaches importance to practical and verifiable advances in any engagement with Kabul, the spokesperson added.
The comments come amid continued differences between Pakistan and Afghanistan over security concerns and allegations relating to activities on each side of the border.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan interim government to prevent its territory from being used by groups that carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
The spokesperson did not provide further details on any proposed talks or indicate when such an engagement could take place, but reiterated Pakistan’s readiness for institutional dialogue if it results in verifiable counter-terrorism steps.
