Islamabad urges Afghanistan to assure its soil is not used against Pakistan

A Pakistani soldier keeps vigil next to a fenced border along with Afghan’s Paktika province border in Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Pakistan, on October 18, 2017. (AFP/File)

Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, chairs a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on February 2, 2025. (MOFA/File)

• Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy since a fragile truce between Pakistani Taliban, Islamabad broke down in 2022
• Islamabad has frequently blamed the rise in attacks on militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, an allegation denied by Kabul

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has urged Afghanistan to assure its soil is not used against Pakistan, Pakistani state media reported on Friday, amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan’s western regions.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy, particularly in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province that borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamabad broke down in November 2022.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Dar said Pakistan shares common religion, culture and history with Afghanistan, and Islamabad would continue to provide all assistance to the landlocked neighboring country, the APP news agency reported.
“We are well wishers of Afghanistan and wished them prosperity,” he was quoted as saying. “However, we wanted assurance from the Afghan authorities that their soil will be not used against Pakistan.”
The statement came as Pakistani security forces killed six TTP militants in an intelligence-based operation in the restive KP province, according to the Pakistani military.
The TTP has stepped up its attacks and frequently targeted security forces, convoys and police check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Dar was of the view that the United States and allied forces withdrawal from Afghanistan should not have left behind weapons and ammunition, which came in access of militant outfits.
“Pakistan would retaliate to an attack from any neighboring country,” he said.