KARACHI: Any engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan depends on concrete action by Kabul against militant groups, Pakistan's commerce minister said on Monday, citing a surge in militant attacks inside Pakistan.
Tensions have been high between Islamabad and Kabul over the increase in militant attacks that Pakistan has blamed on Afghanistan-based militant groups, an allegation denied by the Taliban authorities.
The attacks triggered one of the worst skirmishes between the neighbors in Oct. last year, after Islamabad hit what it called Pakistani Taliban targets inside Afghanistan. Pakistan has since suspended all trade with Afghanistan, despite a ceasefire reached in Doha on Oct. 19.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said on Monday that Pakistan has made it clear at all levels that it could not make any compromise on its security and that militants using Afghan soil need to be "handled."
"If we have to engage in any form, Afghanistan has to address this aspect of terrorism first," he said on X. "In recent months, many such incidents have taken place and we see an increase in it."
There was no immediate response to the statement from the Afghan side, which comes as the suspension of trade between the neighbors has been severely impacting traders on either side of the border.
Kamal said they welcomed any dialogue and ways to facilitate trade but could not pursue them in the presence of militant "safe havens" in Afghanistan.
"Economic aspects do come in between, however, we keep our sovereignty and security as the highest priority," he added.
