Following a two-day visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistan and Türkiye have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including defense, trade, and counter-terrorism. The 7th Session of the Pakistan-Türkiye High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) concluded with a joint declaration and several agreements. New Joint Standing Committees (JSCs) focusing on security, defense, intelligence, health, and science and technology were also established. A statement from the Foreign Office also said that both sides called for stability in Afghanistan.
Both nations emphasized the need for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, stressing that the country must not serve as a haven for terrorist groups. They urged the interim Afghan authorities to take necessary measures against groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh (ISIS-Khorasan), which remain under UN sanctions.
Addressing a press briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan has reiterated the country’s serious concerns regarding the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists operating from sanctuaries within Afghanistan. Khan emphasized that this issue remains a key obstacle in Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, and that resolving it is crucial for realizing the full potential of bilateral cooperation.
Khan stated that Pakistan continues to engage with the Afghan interim government on this matter through various diplomatic channels, urging them to address the problem. He highlighted a multi-pronged approach to counter-terrorism, involving both kinetic actions within Pakistan’s borders and ongoing diplomatic efforts. While acknowledging the existence of various bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for addressing the issue, Khan stressed that the TTP sanctuaries remain a central point of discussion with the Afghan government.
Regarding the broader issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, Khan confirmed that Pakistan is actively raising its concerns at all international forums, engaging with partner countries and directly with the Afghan government. He emphasized that Pakistan employs its own tailored counter-terrorism strategy, adapted to its specific needs and circumstances, and that this approach is consistently communicated to the Afghan government as a necessary step toward improving bilateral relations. The spokesperson underscored that the threat of terrorism from Afghanistan remains a significant concern for Pakistan.
