Monitoring Desk: Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Muhammad Sadiq, showed the mirror to the Afghan Taliban at the eighth meeting of the ‘Moscow Format Consultations’ on Afghanistan, held today, by boldly telling everybody sitting in the meeting that terrorism remains at the core of Afghanistan’s problems, with roots in the nexus between the Taliban Regime and terrorist groups, including the TTP, BLA, ETIM, ISKP, Al Qaeda and their affiliates, that operate with impunity on Afghan soil.
It is pertinent to mention that the opening statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, S.V. Lavrov, was highly appreciative of the Taliban regime, stating that the Taliban are governing Afghanistan quite successfully and waging an uncompromising fight against the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. It may be mentioned that Russian Federation is the only country that has recognized Afghan Taliban regime.
In his statement, Muhammad Sadiq expressed what the realities are and what Pakistan is facing today from the Afghan border. He said that the situation is worsened by external actors and spoilers who support proxies inside Afghanistan to target Pakistan and other countries in the region, which remain highly vulnerable to destabilizing threats caused by terrorism, drug smuggling, illegal migration, and human trafficking.
He informed participants that Pakistan joined the regional countries after the arrival of the Taliban in Kabul in 2021 in the efforts to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan and address the humanitarian needs of the people of Afghanistan. He informed participants that Islamabad engaged at the highest level, facilitated humanitarian relief efforts, and provided visas to vulnerable Afghans. Pakistan also extended trade and transit incentives to support the Afghan economy, participated in regional initiatives and connectivity projects, and remained at the forefront of efforts to facilitate Afghanistan’s integration into the international comity.
However, he said that despite these efforts, Afghanistan stands at a critical juncture, facing a deteriorating humanitarian crisis and grappling with multiple challenges. The top of them are terrorism, the issue of counterterrorism, ensuring women’s rights and girls’ education, and promoting inclusivity.
He stated that continuing restrictions on women and girls, the absence of any meaningful efforts to ensure broad-based governance, and the lack of progress on counterterrorism commitments not only impede Afghanistan’s long-term development and stability, but they also threaten regional security and undermine our collective efforts towards regional peace and prosperity.
He stated that five years into the Taliban rule, Pakistan faces the most serious security threat. Over the last three years alone, more than 4,700 innocent Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. No country would tolerate such a situation.
“Thousands of innocent Pakistani civilians and security personnel have been martyred in the last few years as a result of terrorist attacks planned, financed, supported and carried out from Afghan soil. Taliban Regime is complicit in this. No responsible state can remain passive when its security is repeatedly undermined and its people are viciously targeted. Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations are conducted in response to the terrorist attacks being perpetrated from Afghan soil. These operations are precise, intelligence-based and defensive in nature,” he maintained.
He said that Pakistan’s actions are in exercise of its right to self-defence, to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. These actions are directed solely against the terrorist outfits based in Afghanistan that pose a threat to the region and beyond.
“Pakistan has been, and will continue to be, taking all appropriate measures to uphold the safety and security of its citizens in accordance with international law, and based on the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort. All measures taken by Pakistan constitute legitimate defensive actions against sanctuaries and bases used for planning, training and launching terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, and the scale and scope of Islamabad’s actions represent restraint, particularly in light of the severity of the challenge we face”, emphasized Pakistan’s position.
He said that Pakistan desires peace and stability in the region and has remained patiently engaged in political and diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. However, it is unfortunate that Pakistan’s numerous goodwill gestures and highly responsible approach were misconstrued, resulting in increased terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, with the active support and backing of the Taliban Regime.
He stated that Pakistan expected the Taliban Regime would take concrete and verifiable actions against those terrorist groups. Regrettably, they failed to act in complete disregard for the legitimate security concerns of Pakistan and other countries. We hope that the Taliban will honor their commitments made to the international community.
