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Pakistan-Afghanistan relations under Taliban regime in Kabul

Seems like India wants Indian wheat delivered by Indian trucks so the Afghan public knows who their benefactors are, whereas Pakistan would prefer the wheat delivered by non-Indian trucks.

I assume as the situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate, Pakistan will feel more pressure to let the Indian trucks through.
 
Napa said:
Seems like India wants Indian wheat delivered by Indian trucks so the Afghan public knows who their benefactors are, whereas Pakistan would prefer the wheat delivered by non-Indian trucks.

I assume as the situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate, Pakistan will feel more pressure to let the Indian trucks through.
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Isn't it more important to get the wheat delivered first and then worry about jingo PR for India later?
 
Napa said:
Seems like India wants Indian wheat delivered by Indian trucks so the Afghan public knows who their benefactors are, whereas Pakistan would prefer the wheat delivered by non-Indian trucks.

I assume as the situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate, Pakistan will feel more pressure to let the Indian trucks through.
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Indian trucks means Indian crews. We won't allow that and we don't have an agreement to allow this transportation to occur. Therefore to get around the agreement the UN was going to be used. You can only have Indian trucks using our land routes if there is a transit agreement. Pakistan is just saying we can use the UN to transport the wheat. It'll still be marked as Indian wheat. But as usual the Indian want to make a big hoo Haa. Clearly its just a PR stunt for the bhakts.
 
Napa said:
Seems like India wants Indian wheat delivered by Indian trucks so the Afghan public knows who their benefactors are, whereas Pakistan would prefer the wheat delivered by non-Indian trucks.

I assume as the situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate, Pakistan will feel more pressure to let the Indian trucks through.
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Yes and the trucks will go through a packing plant where the wheat will be re-bagged and shown as product of Pakistan. The people of Afghan will be happy to receive the wheat and they will be happy with Pakistan and India will foot the bill.

Then once everyone has been fed, a plane will fly over Kabul City with a banner streaming behind it stating "Pakistan Zindabad".
 
IMMY69 said:
Yes and the trucks will go through a packing plant where the wheat will be re-bagged and shown as product of Pakistan. The people of Afghan will be happy to receive the wheat and they will be happy with Pakistan and India will foot the bill.

Then once everyone has been fed, a plane will fly over Kabul City with a banner streaming behind it stating "Pakistan Zindabad".
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That’s what the tussle is about. It is an Indian donation and the Indian government feels the recipients of the donation should know where the donation is coming from.

If Pakistan wants credit it should make the donation itself rather than re-bagging the Indian donation.
 
Napa said:
One could say the same for the “anti-Indian jingo PR” by Pakistan too.
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For Pakistan restraining Indian jingo PR in Afghanistan is a matter of life and death, considering the anti-Pak propaganda that will come as an attachment to the wheat bags. I presume you saw the Indian personnel flying out on jets when the puppet govt fell in Afghanistan. They knew the jig was up.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
For Pakistan restraining Indian jingo PR in Afghanistan is a matter of life and death, considering the anti-Pak propaganda that will come as an attachment to the wheat bags. I presume you saw the Indian personnel flying out on jets when the puppet govt fell in Afghanistan. They knew the jig was up.
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If the jig was up then:

1) Pakistan shouldn’t mind recipients of Indian charity knowing who their benefactor was.

2) Afghanistan wouldn’t need Indian charity.
 
Napa said:
That’s what the tussle is about. It is an Indian donation and the Indian government feels the recipients of the donation should know where the donation is coming from.

If Pakistan wants credit it should make the donation itself rather than re-bagging the Indian donation.
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Will there ever come a time when brain transplants will become a thing of reality?
 
Hold up, weren't we were bored to death about Indians will never need Pakistan land territory to transport anything to central Asia/Afghanistan? what are they moaning about now?

Fly that wheat just like the guns were.
 
LaLoco said:
Hold up, weren't we were bored to death about Indians will never need Pakistan land territory to transport anything to central Asia/Afghanistan? what are they moaning about now?

Fly that wheat just like the guns were.
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Learn the difference between commerce and charity.
 
Napa said:
Learn the difference between commerce and charity.
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lol, with 5th largest Forex, it wouldn't cost that much to India to display the act of goodwill and opportunity for PR stunt.

Either commerce or charity, the land route to CA/Afg is through Pakistan :)
 
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2333131/pakistan-did-not-aid-or-abet-anyone-in-afghanistan-nsa-moeed-yusuf

National Security Advisor (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, in an interview, said Pakistan did not aid and abet anyone in Afghanistan and termed the policy employed by the United States and others in the war-torn country as a failure.

Speaking to BBC's Stephen Sackur on HARDtalk, Moeed, objecting to the host's opening remarks, said “there was a policy employed by the United States and others who were there in Afghanistan and it was a failing policy.”

The national security advisor reminded Sackur that Pakistan was the only country that had repeatedly stated that there was no military solution to the Afghan issue.

“Our advice was not heeded. We kept saying to negotiate from a position of strength and we weren’t listened to. We are blamed and scapegoated. The results are in front of you. The facts should be for what they are,” Moeed added.

Answering a question about whether Pakistan’s security has been enhanced or diminished since the Taliban take over of Afghanistan, the NSA said it depended on how the international community played its role in the future in regards to the region.

When Moeed was asked about the incumbent government’s negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the host also referred to the recent proceedings in the Supreme Court of Pakistan during which Prime Minister Imran Khan was questioned over the government’s ongoing talks with the militant outfit.

“Is the government going to sign a document of defeat with those who killed these children? Are we going to surrender once again?,” Sackur quoted the bench's remarks, which referred to the 2014 Peshawar Army Public School (APS) attack in which more than 145 people, mostly schoolchildren, were martyred.

Moeed stated that all stakeholders need to be taken into confidence. "There are parents who lost children, brothers who lost their sisters, sons who lost their fathers. There are problems with the tribes because they were wiped out."

“We have a consistent policy as a state that negotiations must happen from a position of strength. This is what we told the US and others for 20 years for Afghanistan and I wish they would have listened. The TTP was getting its support from India and Afghan intelligence and that lifeline is gone."

"They co-existed with the Afghan Taliban as they had contacts. We are in the position of strength because we know that they are reeling at this moment. What we are saying is that, if they (TTP), are willing to go through the due process of the law in the courts of Pakistan, live according to the Constitution of Pakistan, get punished for whatever crimes they committed, renounce violence forever (then), we want to hear what they want to say,” he added.

The security advisor also rebuffed news reports regarding the release of some TTP prisoners as a part of the recent ceasefire agreement with the federal government.

“We are hearing them out if they are serious about this or not. There are families and thousands of Pakistanis who are linked with them in one way or the other. But, the state’s job is not to kill another Pakistani. We are going to make sure that Pakistanis are safe without any more blood being spilt on either side,” said Moeed.
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LaLoco said:
lol, with 5th largest Forex, it wouldn't cost that much to India to display the act of goodwill and opportunity for PR stunt.

Either commerce or charity, the land route to CA/Afg is through Pakistan :)
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They can always load up their trucks with all the flags and banners on a ship, offload at Chahbahar and drive up via Iran.
 
SLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to repatriate Afghan and other foreign nationals, who are staying illegally in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Friday, citing well-placed sources.

According to the inside story of a high-level meeting recently chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the current situation in the neighbouring country, Afghanistan, the decision was taken to send back 300,000 illegal Afghan immigrants to their homeland.

Sources relayed that the Afghan nationals whose visas have expired will be given three months’ time to go return to their country.

The high-level meeting attended by the top civil and military leadership decided that Pakistan cannot further bear the burden of Afghan nationals and they have to go back to their homeland.

Earlier, Pakistan’s top civil, military leadership led by Prime Minister Imran Khan had agreed upon providing all-out assistance to Afghanistan on a humanitarian basis to save the country from any humanitarian disaster.

The decision was made in the apex committee meeting headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, federal ministers, and other senior civil and military leadership.

The meeting had agreed that the isolation of Afghanistan by global countries could lead to a disaster and hoped that the world would not repeat the act of isolating the country.

ARY
 
Taliban stop Pakistani troops from fencing border

KABUL: Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan disrupted the erecting of a security fence by the Pakistani military along the border between the two countries, Afghan officials said on Wednesday.

Pakistan has fenced most of the 2,600km border des*pite protestations from Kabul, which has contested the British-era boundary demarcation that splits families and tribes on either side.

Afghan defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi said Taliban forces stopped the Pakistani military from erecting what he called an “illegal” border fence along the eastern province of Nangarhar on Sunday.

He played down the incident, saying everything was now normal. The Pakistan army did not respond to a request for comment.

A video circulated on social media showed Taliban soldiers had seized spools of barbed wire and one senior official asking Pakistani soldiers stationed in security posts in the distance not to try to fence the border again.

Reuters could not verify the video independently.

Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi said they were investigating the incident.

Taliban and Pakistani forces came face-to-face over the border incident, two Taliban officials said on condition of anonymity, and the situation was tense.

They added that following the incident there was cross-border mortar fire from Pakistani territory further north along the frontier into Afghanistan’s Kunar province on Wednesday.

It was unclear if the incidents are linked. The officials said Afghan military helicopters could be seen patrolling the area.

The fencing was a main reason behind the souring of relations between previous US-backed Afghan governments and Islamabad. The current standoff indicates the issue remains a contentious matter for the Taliban, despite its close ties to Islamabad.

Foreign governments have long alleged that Pakistan supported the insurgent movement as it fought the US-backed government and Western troops — a charge Islamabad denies.

The lawless mountainous border was historically fluid before Pakistan began erecting a metal fence four years ago, of which it has completed 90 per cent.

The border incident happened the day foreign delegates from around the world gathered in Islamabad for a summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1665245/taliban-stop-pakistani-troops-from-fencing-border
 
Pakistan and the interim Afghan Taliban government have reached an understanding to resolve the issue of border fencing through talks, a senior Pakistani official said on Friday.

The move after Taliban soldiers last week tried to disrupt the fencing along the eastern province of Nangarhar.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said a local intelligence chief of the Taliban tried to remove the fence and it was not a decision approved by the Taliban leadership.

Soon after the incident Pakistan and the Taliban established contact at the highest level and agreed to resolve the issue through talks.

“Both the sides have reached an understanding not to escalate the situation,” the official said, adding that there were some issues of alignments about the border fencing and the two sides would resolve this mutually.

“Afghan side was requested to coordinate border alignment before fixing the fence,” the official said.

The official also disclosed that acting Afghan defence minister Mullah Yaqub, who is also a son of Taliban co-founder Mullah Muhammad Omar, visited the troubled region and directed local Taliban commanders not to take such measures in the future.

Meanwhile, the issue was also raised in the Senate. Former Senate chairman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Raza Rabbani questioned the government's haste to extend support to the Afghan Taliban, when the latter did "not even recognise the border".

Senator Rabbani asked the foreign minister to take the parliament into confidence about a recent incident in which the new rulers in Afghanistan had reportedly barred Pakistan's security forces from fencing the border.

"They are not ready to recognise the border, so why are we moving forward?" questioned Rabbani, during the session today.

The PPP senator also expressed alarm over reports that the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was regrouping in Afghanistan, "which could possibly fuel terrorism in Pakistan".

"On what terms is the state talking about a ceasefire with the banned group?" he questioned.

He went on to say that the state of Pakistan meant the civil and military bureaucracy of Pakistan and not the people sitting in parliament.

The incident took place a day before Pakistan was to host an extraordinary conference of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation. The Afghan acting foreign minister also attended the daylong meeting, which agreed to set up a trust fund to help Afghanistan prevent the humanitarian catastrophe.

A video circulated on social media showed Taliban soldiers had seized spools of barbed wire and one senior official warning Pakistani soldiers stationed in security posts in the distance not to try to fence the border again.

Afghan defence ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khwarazmi said Taliban forces stopped the Pakistani military from erecting an "illegal" border fence along the eastern province of Nangarhar on Sunday.

He played down the incident, saying everything was now normal. Pakistan did not officially react to the development.

The fencing of the 2,600-kilometre long and rugged border has remained one of the contentious issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The previous administration in Kabul also objected to the fencing of the border and even the Afghan side tried to stop Pakistan from erecting a fence.

Pakistan, however, went ahead with the fencing and as per officials, 90 per cent of the border with Pakistan is now fenced. The fencing is part of the border mechanism Pakistan has been working on for years in order to not just regulate the movement of people but also deny terrorists on both sides to shuttle between the two borders easily.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335605/border-fencing-issue-resolved-through-talks
 
<b>Pakistan said will allow Indian wheat for Afghanistan, still blocks it</b>

<I>Pakistan’s tardy approach is surprising as even the Taliban setup in Kabul raised the need for approvals for transportation of Indian wheat with the Imran Khan government in view of the urgent need for food items amid a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.</I>

NEW DELHI: Almost a month after Pakistan said it will allow transportation of humanitarian aid for the Afghan people via the Wagah land border crossing, New Delhi has not been able to ship any wheat as Islamabad has not finalised modalities.

The Indian side made the proposal for sending 50,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines via Wagah on October 7 and received a response from Pakistan only on November 24. On December 3, Pakistan said it will allow Indian relief materials to be shipped via the border crossing only in Afghan trucks.

“The transportation of wheat via Wagah is yet to begin as we are still waiting to hear from the Pakistani side on all the modalities,” a person familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Tuesday.

People familiar with the matter said the tardy approach of the Pakistani side was surprising as even the Taliban setup in Kabul raised the issue with the Pakistan government in view of the urgent need for food items amid a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. A Taliban delegation led by acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi that visited Islamabad in November specifically discussed the issue of allowing the shipment of wheat from India with top Pakistani leaders.

On November 12, well before the formal approvals were conveyed to India, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s office tweeted on his meeting with Muttaqi, announcing the prime minister’s assurance to “favourably consider the request by Afghan brothers for transportation of wheat” from India.

India has so far sent 1.6 tonnes of life-saving medicines to Afghanistan on a special charter flight to Kabul on December 11. The flight brought 104 people, most of them Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, from Kabul to New Delhi, and returned with 85 Afghan nationals who were stranded in India following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August.

The supply of medicines, which were handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO) for use at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul, was praised by the Taliban.

The Indian side does not recognise the Taliban regime but has repeatedly said it will provide aid for the Afghan people in view of the humanitarian crisis. As there are no direct flights between the two countries, the Indian side proposed that the wheat should be transported via Pakistan.

Several conditions were attached by Pakistan to the shipping of wheat via the Wagah land border. Pakistan told the Indian side that the entire consignment of 50,000 tonnes should be transported within the month of December.

The people cited above said about 30 to 40 Afghan trucks currently make a daily trip to Wagah and it would be impossible to transport 50,000 tonnes of wheat via the route within a short period of time
 
<b>Pakistan, India nearing deal on Afghan wheat transit:</b>

<I>Delhi provides list of Afghan contractors, truck drivers who would transport Indian wheat.</I>

ISLAMABAD: New Delhi has provided the list of Afghan contractors and truck drivers to Islamabad who would transport Indian wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan, as the two sides inch closer to finalise the agreement.

Diplomatic sources confirmed to The Express Tribune that both sides in principle agreed to the modalities and the wheat shipment would begin once Pakistan approves the list of Afghan contractors and drivers.

India in October had announced 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat for Afghanistan as humanitarian assistance and requested Pakistan to open its border for transporting the food grains.

Pakistan, which otherwise does not allow two way trade between India and Afghanistan, decided to create an exception by allowing the Indian wheat to pass through its land route.

Pakistan said the decision of allowing India to transport wheat was taken keeping in view the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and must not serve as a precedent for future transhipment.

The two sides initially struggled to agree on modalities as Pakistan initially suggested for the transportation of wheat under the banner of the United Nations. But New Delhi made a counter proposal, suggesting the wheat be carried either by Afghan or Indian trucks.

Following Islamabad’s nod to New Delhi’s proposal, the latter has now handed a list of Afghan contractors and drivers. Sources said Pakistani authorities are in process of vetting the list. The shipment would be set in motion as soon as Pakistan approves the list provided by India. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have agreed to join hands for the people of Afghanistan despite the otherwise tense relationship between them.

Other than the longstanding Kashmir dispute, Afghanistan has also been a source of friction between Pakistan and India. Both have accused each other of using the Afghan soil to undermine each other’s security and strategic interests. Islamabad has long accused India of funding and backing the terrorist groups targeting Pakistan.

But the two sides reluctantly agreed to work this time as the people of Afghanistan are in desperate need of help as UN figures show nearly 23 million Afghans are facing acute food shortage. As many as 3.2 million children are at risk of malnutrition. The UNDP has warned that 97 per cent of Afghans would slip below the poverty line by June next if urgent steps are not taken to help them.

Pakistan recently hosted an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers, who agreed to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan. Islamabad separately is also helping Afghans with a donation of 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat and other necessary goods.

— — —

The Express Tribune
 
finalfantasy7 said:
pathetic stunt by Pakistan, yet again playing with lives
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It's also a stunt by India to be honest, but hopefully both countries can stop playing political games and stop using Afghanistan to score brownie points. Pakistan should come to some agreement to let the wheat through, and India should raise Afghanistan's plight with the UN and demand the Afghan assets in America are released to the country.
 
Our relations with Afghanistan will always be tense. This is because they want KPK a province that is an integral part of Pakistan. The people of KPK have no interest in merging with a warzone next door.
 
Cpt. Rishwat said:
It's also a stunt by India to be honest, but hopefully both countries can stop playing political games and stop using Afghanistan to score brownie points. Pakistan should come to some agreement to let the wheat through, and India should raise Afghanistan's plight with the UN and demand the Afghan assets in America are released to the country.
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That wont happen, due to America wont trade with the Taliban as they control the Afghani banks and the only country who actually trades with afghan in its current state i.e the Taliban is Pakistan - even the Arab countries have fully backed out - thr version of trade is like India- food/wheat etc.
 
Concerns conveyed to Afghan Taliban on fencing incidents

ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has conveyed its concerns at the highest level to the interim Afghan Taliban government over the repeated incidents where some local Taliban soldiers tried to remove fencing along the border.

The Afghan Taliban leadership was told that Pakistan was observing "maximum restraint" to avoid any escalation in tensions, a senior Pakistani official told The Express Tribune here on Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Nevertheless, Pakistan is expected to issue a formal statement on the issue within 24 hours, as per official sources.

In recent weeks, there have been repeated incidents along the Pak-Afghan border where some local Taliban soldiers tried to remove the fence.

The first incident took place on December 18, a day before Pakistan was to host an extraordinary conference of the foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation. The acting Afghan foreign minister also attended the daylong meeting, which agreed to set up a trust fund to help Afghanistan prevent the humanitarian catastrophe.

A video circulated on social media showed Taliban soldiers seizing spools of barbed wire and one senior official warning Pakistani soldiers stationed at security posts not to try to fence the border again.

On Sunday, another video was shared on the social media showing Taliban fighters breaking polls one after the other using a truck.

As per Kabul News, in a video statement the Afghan defence ministry spokesperson said they would not allow fencing since it "divides" the families on both sides of the border. There was no formal reaction from Pakistan to the remarks.

But officials in background discussions said Pakistan was taking up the issue at all levels. According to Pakistan’s assessment, there seems some local Taliban commanders who were provoking Pakistani forces on their own. Pakistan, the official pointed out, was observing maximum restraint. One official claimed that the Afghan Taliban leadership was also worried about the conduct of their low-level soldiers since they understood the importance of Pakistan cooperation in this difficult juncture.

The official also said there were other elements such as smugglers who might be trying to exploit the situation. "That is why we are handling the situation with care," the official said.

The official said there were other major issues to deal with and hence Pakistan did not want to get bogged down with these incidents. "We are looking at a bigger picture. There may be elements in Afghanistan who want to provoke us," the official said.

But Pakistan, in a formal statement, is likely to make it clear that there will be no compromise on the border since it is a settled issue. The fencing would also continue, according to the official.

The latest incident happened despite earlier claims by a senior official that both sides had resolved the issue.

The fencing of the 2600-kilometre-long and rugged border has remained one of the contentious issues between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The previous administration in Kabul also objected to the fencing of the border and even the Afghan side tried to stop Pakistan from erecting a fence.

Pakistan, however, went ahead with the fencing and as per officials, 90 per cent of the border with Pakistan is now fenced. The fencing is part of the border mechanism Pakistan has been working on for years in order to not just regulate the movement of people but to also deny terrorists on both sides to shuttle between the two borders easily.

The fencing of the border has remained one of the contentious issues even during the previous administration. There were even border clashes in the past causing casualties. But Pakistan never backtracked from fencing the border as it considered the initiative as vital to prevent free movement of terrorists. In the past, Islamabad questioned Kabul's opposition to the fencing as it would benefit both sides.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2336852/concerns-conveyed-to-afghan-taliban-on-fencing-incidents
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The brave people of Afghanistan are in dire need of our help. They need food, shelter, warm clothes, medicines, etc. It was an eye opening experience to witness the situation at Pak-Afg border with <a href="https://twitter.com/Mushy_online?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Mushy_online</a>. Plz contribute & help the ummah of the beloved Prophet, PBUH. <a href="https://t.co/XeKjuU3Si1">pic.twitter.com/XeKjuU3Si1</a></p>— Mohammad Rizwan (@iMRizwanPak) <a href="https://twitter.com/iMRizwanPak/status/1477847449649745923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Show kindness to the people of Afghanistan. They have suffered enough over the years. Many Afghan's love Pakistan too.
 
As the year 2021 came to a close, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar on Wednesday gave an overview of the year 2021 at a press conference.

The purpose of the presser was to shed light on the measures taken in light of the changes in the national security domain owing to the current regional situation, protection from external threats, and especially take into account the various measures taken as part of Operation Raddul Fasaad.

During the press conference, Gen Iftikhar talked about the security situation along the border with Afghanistan, especially the border fencing. The ISPR chief said that the purpose of erecting the fence along the border was to provide security to people along the border, not create divisions among them.

The army spokesperson added that the fence along the border was a need of the hour to regulate trade, movement and provide security along the border. He added that the fence was not meant to divide people along the border but to make them safe.

According to the ISPR DG, the fencing work along the Pak-Afghan border is almost completed while over 71 per cent of the work on fencing has been completed along the Pak-Iran border.

“The blood of our martyrs is involved in erecting this fence. Peace will prevail and God willing it will last,” he added.

Speaking about border crossings, he said people from border areas can travel via border terminals and designated crossing points, adding that this system will be made effective over time.

'Challenging security situation'

Gen Iftikhar said the security situation on the western border remained challenging and added that the Western Border Management, especially the Pakistan-Afghan border, has its own strategic dynamics that are being addressed on relevant forums.

The army spokesperson said an operation was conducted in North Waziristan to ensure the writ of the state along the Pak-Afghan border. As a result of the operation, the fencing of the border in the area also got underway, he said, adding that the terrain – that was inaccessible due to hostile weather – was being used by terrorists to cross the border.

Gen Iftikhar said the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in August had an impact on Pakistan’s security situation. “But we are completely focused and the work started under Western Border Management Regime will be taken to its logical end,” he added.

He said there was full coordination on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border, adding that to prevent spoilers, these area-specific incidents needed to be resolved with patience.

According to the ISPR DG, Pakistan has more than 1,200 border posts along the Pak-Afghan border while there are 377 posts on the other side of the border. “This means that there is a distance of at least 7-8 km between check posts,” he said, adding that the shortage of posts has made it challenging to keep the militants in check.

In 2021, 164 forts were constructed along the Pak-Afghan border and 31 forts were established along the Pak-Iran border, he said, adding that so far a total of 673 forts/border posts have been constructed.

“Pakistan has set up 67 new wings for FC Balochistan and FC KP to strengthen border security while the formation of six more wings is in the process,” he added.

He said measures have been taken to curb smuggling through Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, Angor Ada, Badini and Chaman border terminals.

Speaking about Afghanistan, the current situation in Afghanistan could lead to a serious humanitarian crisis that will have a direct impact on the security and safety of Pakistan and the region.

Operation Raddul Fasaad

Speaking about the operation, Gen Iftikhar said the operation was different from other operations as it was not area-specific or military-specific.

At least 60,000 IBOs were conducted under Raddul Fasaad. The measures taken by the security forces busted terrorist networks across the country, he added.

Over 800 security alerts were issued during the year that managed to thwart terrorism incidents by 70 per cent, the ISPR chief added.

No ceasefire with TTP
The ISPR chief also spoke about the talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He said the dialogue with the banned outfit is suspended and the military operations against them are continuing.

The ceasefire with the militant outfit ended on December 9, he said, adding that the initiative was confidence-building measures taken by Pakistan at the request of the Afghanistan government led by the Afghan Taliban.

The DG said the TTP was brought to the table by the Afghan Taliban as there was a “condition for the interim Afghan government that the TTP should not be operating from the Afghan soil” against Pakistan.

The Afghan Taliban said they would bring them to the table and make them accept what Pakistan wanted, he said, adding, “Obviously, those external conditions were yet to be settled.”

According to the ISPR DG, there were internal differences in the TTP, adding that there were some problems in the negotiations. “Some of the conditions were non-negotiable from our side so there is no ceasefire,” he said, adding that the operations will continue till the eradication of the terror outfit.

IIOJK human rights violations

During the press conference, the ISPR DG alluded to the human rights violations in occupied Kashmir. The ISPR chief said the ceasefire agreement signed with India “improved” the lives of Kashmiris living along the border.

Gen Iftikhar said the propaganda launched by the Indian media was an attempt to deflect the attention from the atrocities in occupied Kashmir.

The army spokesperson accused India of putting the region’s peace at stake through increased defence spending. "It will have negative effects on peace. On the Line of Control, they have committed false propaganda about infiltration," Gen Iftikhar added.

He said the Indian forces staged a fake encounter in Neelum Valley recently and killed an innocent Kashmiri and blamed it on Pakistan. He called out the Indian media for its propaganda over the incident, saying the media ran pictures of a terrorist named Shabbir. “He is not only alive but is at his home in Sharda.”

Maj Gen Iftikhar said India has killed countless people, adding that India wanted to “externalize” the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. “But voices are coming from everywhere that the people are being targeted and their struggle is being stamped out,” he added.

"On January 5, 1989, the people of Kashmir were promised the right to self-determination by the UN. That promise remains unfulfilled. On this occasion, we salute their bravery."

'CPEC's security being ensured'

Speaking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the security situation in Balochistan, the ISPR DG said the nefarious attempts by anti-state elements to sabotage the project have failed.

“The security of CPEC and other projects is being ensured by the Pakistani forces at great cost,” he added.

The Krut Hydro Power Project is 93 per cent complete, he said, adding that the project would add 720 MW to the national grid. The project will bring significant benefits to the local population, he added.

The dry shore hydropower project is also in the process of completion, the ISPR chief said, adding that despite all the challenges, the progress of any project has not been hampered.

“In this regard, we will take you there for the progress of various ongoing projects across the country so that you can report them yourself,” he added.

In addition, 199 Developmental Projects costing approximately Rs601 billion have been started in Balochistan under the federal government's Vision Balochistan, he said.

He added that this included 10 major health projects, 18 education projects, 20 agriculture projects and 42 major transport projects.

“All these projects are being provided foolproof security so that they can be completed on time and the people of Balochistan can benefit from them,” the army spokesperson added.

Covid-19
Speaking about Covid-19, he said the armed forces of Pakistan are fully engaged in the ongoing efforts against Covid-19. He termed vaccination an effective weapon against the pandemic.

“According to the latest reports, the number of cases is increasing again with the advent of the new variant. The NCOC has issued guidelines in this regard,” he added.

No deal with Nawaz
In response to a question, the army’s spokesperson dismissed rumours of backdoor talks with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

"If anyone is talking about a deal, kindly ask them who is making the deal and the evidence for the existence of such a deal. There is no such thing," he stated.

He also dismissed rumours of a rift between the military and the civilian government, saying the military was subservient to the government. “We work in accordance with their directives," he added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233726...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI
 
ISLAMABAD: While chairing the third meeting of the Apex Committee on Afghanistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that Pakistan is "committed to provide all-out support to the Afghan people to avert a humanitarian crisis".

“We welcome the United Nations (UN) appeal for aid to Afghanistan,” he added.

The committee again expressed concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and vowed that Pakistan will not abandon Afghans in their time of need.

It renewed its appeal to the international community and relief agencies to provide aid at this critical juncture to avert economic collapse and to save precious lives in Afghanistan.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to explore bilateral cooperation with friendly countries as well to stave off humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan by exporting qualified and trained manpower especially in medical, IT, finance and accounting.

He also directed to extend cooperation in the fields of railways, minerals, pharmaceuticals and media to help in Afghanistan’s rehabilitation and development.

Earlier, the committee was updated on the progress made on relief of in-kind humanitarian assistance worth Rs5 billion which comprises food commodities including 50,000MT of wheat, emergency medical supplies, winter shelters and other supplies.

The apex committee was informed that Afghanistan is on the verge of a hunger and crisis situation during this harsh winter. The crisis makes it difficult for the people to get enough food and shelter.

The committee resolved to stand together with the Afghan people and urged relief agencies to take immediate action.

The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Adviser on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yousaf, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and senior civil and military officers.

A day earlier, the Taliban said they had approved their first budget for Afghanistan since the group returned to power in August, with no mention of foreign aid.

International assistance represented 40% of Afghanistan's GDP and made up 80% of its budget when the former US-backed government was in control.

When it crumbled in August and the Taliban took command, Western powers froze billions of dollars in aid and assets in what the United Nations described as an "unprecedented fiscal shock".

"For the first time in the last two decades, we made a budget that is not dependent on foreign aid and that is a very big achievement for us," said Taliban finance ministry spokesman Ahmad Wali Haqmal.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2338717/pakistan-vows-not-to-abandon-afghan-people-in-time-of-need
 
The shipment of Indian wheat for Afghanistan to be transported through Pakistan is expected to start in early February after both sides finally agreed on the modalities following months of discussions.

It will be rare when India transports goods using Pakistan's land route to Afghanistan as Islamabad would otherwise never permit two-way trade between New Delhi and Kabul.

But an exception has been made due to the precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan with Pakistan allowing one time permission to India to transport 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat through the Wagah border.

It took both the sides several weeks of discussions to agree on the modalities. Initially, Pakistan wanted the transportation of humanitarian assistance goods to Kabul in its trucks under the banner of the United Nations. But India made a counter proposal and wanted the food grain to be shipped to Afghanistan either in Indian or Afghan trucks.

The two sides then agreed that wheat would be carried by Afghan trucks and a list of Afghan contractors was shared with Pakistan.

Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar told a weekly news briefing on Friday that all arrangements were now put in place and Pakistan was waiting for the date of the first consignment.

Diplomatic sources told The Express Tribune that the shipment would start in early February. As per the modalities, India has to transport the total amount of wheat within 30 days of the first consignment.
The two countries have decided to cooperate on Afghanistan despite their otherwise tense relationship.

During the news briefing, the spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s allegations against India for violating the human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

“The world is increasingly aware of the grave situation in IIOJK. Let India be warned that its reign of terror and illegal actions cannot continue unchecked,” Asim said.

He said the government and the people of Pakistan would continue to raise their voice and extend all possible support to their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their just struggle.

The spokesperson confirmed that Prime Minister Imran Khan would undertake a visit to China in the first week of February to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

During the visit, the prime minister will have meetings with the Chinese leadership, the spokesperson added.

“The visit will reinforce the all-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between our two countries, and further advance the objective of building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era,” he remarked.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340979/indian-wheat-shipment-for-kabul-may-start-next-month
 
Afghanistan acting Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi assured on Saturday a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf, that Afghan soil would not be used against its neighbours, including Pakistan.

A statement issued by the presidential palace in Kabul quoted Hanafi as saying: "The policy of the Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] is clear that that we will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against [our] neighbours and other countries.

"We also want similar action from others,” he added while hosting the inter-ministerial delegation in the Afghan capital, which had arrived earlier in the day.

The assurance from the Taliban government in Kabul comes amid a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — whose leadership is said to be headquartered in Afghanistan — in Pakistan after the group declined last month to extend a ceasefire with Islamabad.

Separately, Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan tweeted that NSA Moeed Yusuf called on Hanafi and discussed the strengthening of brotherly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote trade, transit and connectivity.

In this regard, the statement by the presidential palace said Hanafi urged Pakistani business leaders and investors to invest in Afghanistan’s energy, mines and agriculture sectors.

He stressed the need for the implementation of major regional projects, including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (Tapi), Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan 500-kV Line (TAP-500) project and the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000), for the import of electricity from two Central Asian countries by Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are two brotherly neighbouring countries which have historical, religious and brotherly relations and I am confident that the[se] friendly relations will be durable,” Hanafi said and thanked Pakistan for helping and hosting refugees from Afghanistan.

He said Afghanistan wanted good relations with Pakistan, based on mutual respect, and the promotion of trade and transit relations between the two countries.

For his part, NSA Yusuf emphasised that peace and stability could not be ensured without establishing economic relations and said the expansion of trade and transit ties were important for both countries.

“Pakistan is committed to the full implementation of major projects and both countries should form a team of private sector to hold talks about the expansion of health, education, trade, mines, information technology,” he said, according to the statement.

Both sides also discussed ways to ensure more facilities for Afghan passengers and patients at the Torkham and Spin Boldak gates, the statement further said.

Purpose of the visit
The delegation led by NSA Yusuf is visiting Kabul for talks on bilateral matters of mutual interest, focusing on Pakistan’s efforts to avert a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country.

The visit was earlier scheduled on January 18 but the trip was delayed due to bad weather.

Upon arrival in Kabul today, the NSA and his delegation were received by Nooruddin Azizi, the acting minister for commerce and industry, at Hamid Karzai International Airport, according to the Pakistan Embassy. Senior officials, including Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, were also part of the delegation.

Following the delegation's arrival, Ambassador Khan said the NSA had a "productive meeting" with Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to kick off the visit. "[He] will have multiple official meetings to strengthen humanitarian and economic engagement," he tweeted.

According to officials of relevant ministries, the purpose of the visit was to ascertain the humanitarian, economic and development needs of Afghanistan in various sectors.

Earlier, Afghanistan state Bakhtar news agency had reported: “Pakistan’s national security adviser is to discuss border issues, trade and economic ties with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) officials during his visit to Kabul."

The main sectors of Pakistan’s cooperation with Afghanistan include health, higher education, provision of humanitarian assistance, and enhancement of trade/business contacts.

The Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell established by Pakistan was working tirelessly on plans of assistance to Afghanistan in the past few weeks.

The NSA is steering the cell to channel Pakistan’s humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan in a manner that helps the Afghan interim authorities in combatting their key challenges while adhering to the requirements of the UN and international sanctions.

The Afghan ministers for health, higher education, finance and commerce undertook visits to Islamabad in recent months for strengthening collaboration in these areas. The plans for assistance in these areas are likely to be finalised during the NSA's visit.

One key challenge for Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers is the exodus of skilled human resources from the country.

In this regard, Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent statement about "exporting qualified and trained manpower" to Afghanistan was apparently misconstrued and sparked a reaction on Afghan social media.

Relevant Pakistani officials argue that Pakistan was actually contemplating opportunities for Afghan refugees who were educated and trained in Pakistan to serve in Afghanistan’s public and private sectors to fill the gap in the country's human resource requirements.

Apart from the bilateral channel, Pakistan has also been facilitating assistance to Afghanistan through international organisations, particularly the UN and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The OIC foreign ministers' special session in Islamabad on December 19, 2021, and the decisions to establish an OIC Trust Fund as well as appoint a special envoy on Afghanistan to oversee humanitarian and economic engagement are reflective of Islamabad's efforts to support Afghanistan at this crucial time.

Earlier this month, a video had surfaced on social media purportedly showing Taliban fighters uprooting a portion of the fence along the Pak-Afghan border, claiming that the fence had been erected inside Afghan territory.

It had drawn a response from Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, who said that the remaining fencing of the frontier would be completed with the consent of the neighbouring country, stating that "they are our brothers."

However, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar had said that fencing of the Pak-Afghan border would continue as planned, adding that blood of martyred soldiers had been spilt while erecting the fence.

Yusuf's visit is thought to be an opportunity for both sides to review the situation along the nearly 2,600-kilometre border and other security-related issues.

It is pertinent to mention that Yusuf, in a recent briefing to an NA body, had remarked that Afghan soil was still being used against Pakistan. However, he also maintained that the Taliban government was maintaining cordial ties with Pakistan and recent border fencing troubles were not part of their policy.

There is a possibility that Yusuf could discuss with the Afghan Taliban the issue of a spike in attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in parts of the country after the group last month declined to extend a ceasefire.

DAWN
 
ISLAMABAD:
National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf undertook a two-day visit to Kabul to discuss with the Afghan leadership, the humanitarian requirements and Pakistan’s proposals for deepening economic engagement to overcome the current challenges their country was facing.

During the visit, the NSA, who also heads Afghanistan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC), called on Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdus Salam Hanafi and the Acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The visit yielded substantive outcomes in terms of forward movement on trade facilitation and social sector support,” said a statement issued by the government on Sunday.

Both sides also reiterated their commitment to the early completion of three major connectivity projects, CASA- 1000, TAPI, and the Trans-Afghan Rail project.

Read more: A pragmatic approach toward Afghanistan

“Both sides agreed to establish a national level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points. They also agreed to initiate barter trade, modalities for which will be worked out immediately,” it said.

Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq and senior officials from relevant ministries were part of the delegation.

Dr Moeed Yusuf also held delegation-level meetings with other relevant Afghan ministers and senior officials dealing with humanitarian and economic issues.

Also read: How Afghanistan may affect Pakistan

During the visit, Pakistan offered Afghanistan capacity building and training support in multiple sectors including health, education, banking, customs, railways and aviation among others.

Afghanistan and Pakistan emphasised their commitment to ensuring peace and stability in both countries.

Dr Yusuf thanked the interim Afghan government for their warm hospitality.
 
At least five soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom when terrorists from inside Afghanistan opened fire on Pakistani troops across the international border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district on Sunday, the military said.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistani troops responded in a befitting manner, adding that terrorists suffered heavy causalities, as per the intelligence reports.

During the fire exchange, Lance Naik Ajab Noor (resident of Karachi, age 34 years), Sepoy Ziaullah Khan (resident of Lakki Marwat, age 22 years), Sepoy Naheed Iqbal (resident of Karak, age 23 years), Sepoy Sameerullah Khan (resident of Bannu, age 18 years) and Sepoy Sajid Ali (resident of Bahawalnagar, age 27 years) embraced martyrdom, said the military's media wing.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and expects that interim Afghan government will not allow conduct of such activities against Pakistan, in future," the official communiqué read.

The ISPR further said that Pakistan Army is determined to defend the country’s borders against the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of the brave men further strengthen our resolve.

The incident comes days after the security forces repulsed attempts to attack their camps in Panjgur and Naushki areas of Balochistan. A clearance operation to eliminate the remaining terrorists was completed last night.

At least 20 terrorists were killed during the operations while nine security personnel embraced martyrdom, the military’s media wing added.

“Both [of the] attacks were repulsed successfully by the prompt response from troops at both locations,” the ISPR said.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, while condemning the terrorist attack, said in a statement that the interim Taliban government should ensure that such attacks do not take place as promised.

Paying homage to the sacrifices of the security forces, he said that their sacrifices will not go in vain.
 
Cross-border attack: Pakistan's patience 'running thin' with Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's patience with the interim Afghan government seems to be running thin as for the first time it publically condemned the use of Afghan soil against it since the Taliban takeover after five of its soldiers embraced martyrdom in exchange of fire with terrorists from across the border on Sunday.

"Terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border, opened fire on Pakistani troops in Kurram District," read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Pakistani troops responded in a "befitting" manner causing heavy causalities to terrorists, the military's media wing said. However, as a result of exchange of fire at least five Pakistani soldiers were martyred, it added.Those who were martyred include Lance Naik Ajab Noor (resident of Karachi, age 34 years), Sepoy Ziaullah Khan (resident of Lakki Marwat, age 22 years), Sepoy Naheed Iqbal (resident of Karak, age 23 years), Sepoy Sameerullah Khan (resident of Bannu, age 18 years) and Sepoy Sajid Ali (resident of Bahawalnagar, age 27 years).

According to the ISPR, Pakistan strongly condemned the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan and "expects that interim Afghan government will not allow the conduct of such activities against Pakistan, in future".

"Pak Army is determined to defend Pakistan’s borders against the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve," the statement added.

This is the first time Pakistan officially condemned the use of Afghan soil against it under the Taliban rule. On previous occasions, Pakistan opted to downplay similar incidents. Even when the local Taliban soldiers tried to disrupt the border fencing, Pakistan termed it a "localised problem".It appears now that Pakistan is running out of patience with the interim Taliban government as despite its repeated promises Afghan soil continued to be used by terrorists against Pakistan.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, while condemning the terrorist attack, said in a statement that the interim Taliban government should ensure that such attacks do not take place as promised.

Paying homage to the sacrifices of the security forces, he said that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

The latest incident came on the heels of coordinated terrorist attacks in the Panjgur and Naushki areas of Balochistan. The Pakistani intelligence agencies intercepted communication between the attackers and their handlers in India and Afghanistan.

It is believed that Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to the Taliban government about the repeated use of Afghan soil by terrorists.

The Taliban government during the recent visit of National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf assured that Afghan soil would not be allowed to use against anyone including Pakistan.

Since the Taliban takeover, Islamabad wanted the interim government to either take action against banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or deny them space to operate out of Afghan soil.

But the Afghan Taliban instead offered to broker a peace deal between Pakistan and the TTP. It was because of this reason that the TTP had agreed to a month-long ceasefire in November. But the truce ended with no progress in peace talks.

Since then the TTP stepped up attacks while Pakistan also resumed operations against the terrorist outfit.

The Afghan Taliban are thought to be still keen to revive talks between Pakistan and the TTP but the spike in terrorist attacks mean there are no prospects of such talks in the foreseeable future.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/234229...RCMHZFeS1HVnpTSTdlOXdJV19VSmJRbzRROVktUFZYUlI
 
I don't know what our generals are doing

And the spokesman and afghan stateman PM Imran Khan is doing who is more worried about Afghans on global stage.

We are losing soldiers everyday now

What's the point of those aircraft , drones and helicopters if you can't use them and soldiers are just there on the border regions as target practice for these groups.

Give them green light to go on the offensive and green light to take it to the enemy if those taliban get their women and children killed tough **** their the ones who went and hid in civilian villages instead of staying on the open ground which they will never do and engage .
 
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Paying homage to the sacrifices of the security forces, he said that their sacrifices will not go in vain.
Click to expand...

Those soldiers are someone's sons , husband brother , fathers

Enough of this either remove our troops and hand over kpk and balochistan to the afghans and Co and bring our troops out of there or if they have been sent that allow them to be soldiers and do their job and fight those attacking them. Or otherwise bajwa should send his own son to man the post and PM Imran Khan should send his 2 , or zardari should send bilawal.
 
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Hundreds of people were stranded on Saturday at a key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, days after fighting between security forces left at least three dead.

"The border remains closed for passengers as well as trade," a Pakistani security official told AFP.

"A delegation of tribal notables and religious leaders has been formed to hold talks with the Taliban," he added. An Afghan official said talks so far had been fruitless.

"They are trying to speak again... but if nothing happens then the issue will be discussed on a higher level," the Kandahar governor's spokesman, Mahmoud Azaam, told AFP.

An AFP reporter saw hundreds of people waiting at Chaman on the Pakistan side for the border to reopen.

Thousands usually cross every day, including traders, Afghans seeking medical treatment in Pakistan, and people visiting relatives.
 
Pak-Afghan trade volume shrinks to $1b

KARACHI:
A report of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) has expressed serious concerns over the “shrinking” trade volume from $2.5 billion to $1 billion between the two countries.

“Lack of business-friendly policies, absence of proper barter trade mechanisms, ineffective investment and joint venture policies apart from unnecessary pressure and action by the FIA and FBR are the main factors that reduced the trade volume,” the report submitted to a committee on Afghanistan, headed by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, on Saturday said.

It stated that in the absence of an operational banking structure in Afghanistan, banks refused to process third-party payments which hindered international transactions.

In addition, imposition of duties, fiscal reforms, double taxation, and unilateral imposition of duties and taxes by either government also affected the trade.

“The trade volume decreased due to the unregulated movement of goods, the need for unnecessary documents, difficult security checks, and poor transit facilities in both countries.”

Speaking to The Express Tribune, PAJCCI Chairman Zubair Motiwala said, “The trade volume between the two countries should reach $5 billion, but due to the absence of a banking system in Afghanistan, payments through third countries are not possible.”

He added that the government has not yet facilitated trade in rupees with Afghanistan whereas barter trade is also not allowed.

It is, however, pertinent to mention that, at the same time, opportunities have arisen for other countries, including Iran, to expand their business activities in the Afghan market.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2345485/pak-afghan-trade-volume-shrinks-to-1b
 
mazkhan said:
I don't know what our generals are doing

And the spokesman and afghan stateman PM Imran Khan is doing who is more worried about Afghans on global stage.

We are losing soldiers everyday now

What's the point of those aircraft , drones and helicopters if you can't use them and soldiers are just there on the border regions as target practice for these groups.

Give them green light to go on the offensive and green light to take it to the enemy if those taliban get their women and children killed tough **** their the ones who went and hid in civilian villages instead of staying on the open ground which they will never do and engage .
Click to expand...

Your language such as tough **** doesn't match your user name. When you say "we" who are you representing? Be truthful and we can have a meanigful debate.
 
Pakistan on Sunday said it will extend by two months the time for India to transport 50,000 tonnes of wheat and life-saving medicines to Afghanistan via the Wagah-Attari land border crossing.

The Pakistan government had, as a special gesture towards the Afghan people, approved the transportation of the wheat and life-saving medicines from India to Afghanistan via the Wagah border crossing on “exceptional basis for humanitarian purposes”, the Foreign Office in Islamabad said in a statement.

After the time period for transporting the humanitarian assistance expired on March 21, the Indian side recently requested an extension of the time to complete the transportation process, the statement added.

“As a manifestation of our sincere efforts towards addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, it has been decided to grant two months’ extension to facilitate completion of the transportation. All the modalities shall remain the same as earlier communicated to the Indian side,” the statement said.

The Foreign Office also informed the Indian high commission in Islamabad about the decision.

The Indian government has signed agreements with the World Food Programme (WFP) for the delivery and distribution of the wheat in Afghanistan. The humanitarian assistance is being transported in Afghan trucks via the Wagah land border crossing. The first convoy of 50 trucks carrying wheat had been flagged off by foreign secretary Harsh Shringla in February.

The Indian side has also supplied 500,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, 13 tonnes of life-saving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These relief materials were handed over to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul.

India first made the offer to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat via Pakistani land routes on October 7 last year, and the matter was held up for more than four months because of negotiations with the Pakistani side to finalise modalities.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...arian-aid-to-afghanistan-101650215647908.html
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First consignment of relief goods for the flood affectees has reached Afghanistan to be followed by more relief measures. Pakistan will continue to stand by Afghan brothers & sisters through thick & thin. International community shouldn't forget Afghan people in this hour of need</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1522814121288384514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The first consignment of relief goods, on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for flood-affected Afghan civilians reached the land-locked country through a special flight of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said on Saturday.

Heavy rain and flooding have killed at least 22 people, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged crops in Afghanistan, which is already facing a humanitarian crisis after the takeover of Taliban forces in August last year.

The Taliban government, struggling to cope with the disaster that has affected more than a third of its provinces, will approach international relief organisations for help, officials said.

"Due to flooding and storms in 12 provinces, 22 people have died and 40 injured," said Hassibullah Shekhani, head of communications and information at Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority.

The relief goods sent by Pakistan include 100 tents, two tons of flour, one ton of rice and 450kgs of sugar.

The second consignment of relief goods would be dispatched on Monday, May 9.

"Pakistan will make every possible effort for the assistance of flood-affected people of Afghanistan," the PM said in his statement.

Pakistan Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said that Pakistan’s Charge d’Affairs Saifullah Khan delivered a consignment of relief items.

Express Tribune
 
Islamabad looking to Kabul to help check terror, says Bilawal

WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Islamabad is looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its role in discouraging the increase in terrorist activity on Pakistan’s side of the border.

“We continue to not only monitor this situation, but work on our side to ensure that we can try to tackle the threat of terrorism and hope that the regime in Afghanistan lives up to their international commitment to not allow their soil to be used for terrorism,” the foreign minister said in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour when asked how he sees the Afghan Taliban government, after reports emerged that Kabul had brokered a ceasefire between the Pakistani military and banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

When asked what it will take for Pakistan to accept the current administration in Kabul, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said any decision in this regard will be taken in line with the discussions with the international community. At the same time, he added, “we continue to advocate for engagement, particularly in light of the humanitarian crisis developing in Afghanistan”.

When asked if Islamabad had engaged with the Afghan Taliban on how Muslim countries can give rights to women, the minister said it wasn’t an issue of the West. “I see women’s rights or women’s rights to education as rights granted to us in Islam. We’ll be emphasising that the Taliban keep their international commitments and ensure rights to the women of Afghanistan.”

To Ms Amanpour’s comment that the US believed Pakistan had played a “very dangerous role” in supporting the Afghan Taliban over the decades, Bilawal maintained Pakistan has consistently engaged with Afghanistan regardless of who was in power. “We have always been advocates of the fact that alongside action against terrorist activity, the resolution of the dispute was in dialogue and diplomacy and ultimately, despite Pakistan being at the receiving end of criticism for maintaining and sustaining this position, the international community went down that route while resolving the conflict and issues in Afghanistan.”

He added that the developments in Kabul have had a direct impact on the lives of the people of Pakistan. “We must prioritise, alleviate the humanitarian crisis, ensure there’s no economic collapse and hold the Taliban regime to the international commitments. It was not Pakistan, but the US who had direct communication with the Taliban regime before their takeover of Kabul. Pakistan and international community believe it will not serve any of our interests if we abandon the people of Afghanistan once again.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1690391/islamabad-looking-to-kabul-to-help-check-terror-says-bilawal
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New Afghan visa policy by our govt is part of our efforts to continue helping our Afghan brothers & sisters in their hour of need. Grant of transit visa will help them complete paperwork for onward travel. International community should also lend a helping hand to people of 🇦🇫</p>— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz/status/1535947125422538752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My condolences & prayers go to the Govt & people of Afghanistan for the loss of lives suffered in the earthquake. I have asked the KP Govt to especially facilitate provision of all medical assistance.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1539528959427239937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Pakistan to attend conference on Afghanistan
Delegations from over 20 countries and international organisations are expected to participate Tashkent moot

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday announced it will be attending the conference on Afghanistan to be held in Tashkent from July 25-27 and has started making preparations in this regard.

Delegations from over 20 countries and international organisations are expected to participate.

“I had a useful meeting with Aybek Arif Usmanov, Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan, to discuss Tashkent International Conference on the theme Afghanistan: Security and Economic Developments," Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, Special Representative for Afghanistan, tweeted.

Sadiq has wide-ranging experience in diplomacy, including extensive expertise on Afghanistan, where he served as Pakistan’s Ambassador from 2008-2014. The forum this month will be a continuation of the earlier Tashkent High-Level International Conference on Afghanistan “Central and South Asia: Regional Connectivity. Challenges and Opportunities” (July 15-16, 2021).

Prior to this, another conference was held on “Peace Process, Security Cooperation and Regional connectivity" (March 27, 2018). Sadiq has been constantly pushing for improving Pak-Afghan bilateral ties as Kabul is pushed into isolation with no country willing to recognise it.

“The main goal of the event is to develop a set of measures and proposals for the approaches of the world community to promote stability, security, post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan and its integration into regional cooperation processes in the interests of Afghan people and the whole world," said a statement from Tashkent.

Uzbek Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, according to local media, stressed that the international community should take responsibilityfor the present and future of Afghanistan and provide continued assistance to resolve problems in the country.

“Unfortunately in Afghanistan, we are seeing a decrease in the attention of the international community to the situation in this country. Meanwhile, the situation there remains difficult due to the acute economic crisis and the difficult humanitarian situation, challenges to regional security and stability remain,” said Norov.

He echoed the views of most of those who will attend the Tashkent meeting when he said that this conference will also send a message to the Taliban to obey international laws and fulfil their commitments and implement those agreements made at earlier Tashkent conferences.

The Taliban have been unable to stop militancy inside Afghanistan and did not succeed in stopping terrorist groups like the TTP from operating inside Afghanistan while carrying out attacks on Pakistan. Rights for women appear non-existent with girls in secondary schools still deprived of a chance to continue with their education.

None of the assurances that Kabul have given at the meetings in several world capitals since they formed interim government have been adhered to, especially at a time when these world capitals have turned their focus to Ukraine with Afghanistan put on the back burner.

A delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, will participate in the Tashkent conference. “Following an official invitation of Uzbekistan, a delegation led by Amir Khan Muttaqi and comprising members of ministries and sectorial organisations will attend, and the Islamic Emirate will express its needs. The ministers and members of the delegation will also meet with several others on the sidelines of the conference,” Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, had earlier stated.

Nazak Meer Ziyarmal, an economist in Tashkent, said in the economic area, humanitarian aid, transit, unfinished projects of Uzbekistan in Afghanistan, particularly the railway to Kabul and from Kabul to Peshawar, will be the main agendas of the conference.

The News PK
 
Pakistan rules out solo flight on Taliban recognition
FO spokesperson says Islamabad thinks a regional, consensual approach will be the best

ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan said on Friday it would recognise the Afghan Taliban government through a regional and consensual approach, rather than taking a solo flight on the matter as Islamabad did during the first Taliban government in Kabul in the 1990s.

Taliban rose to power in the mid-90s but were ousted from the government after US launched military operation against their regime in 2001. They returned to power in August last year after the withdrawal of the US forces, but no country had recognised their government, so far.

“We thought that it would be the best to do it through a regional, consensual approach,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar told his regular weekly news briefing, when asked whether Pakistan was contemplating recognising the Taliban rule.

Despite no formal recognition, many countries have opened their missions in Kabul. Even India, which in the past maintained no contacts with the Taliban, has now established contacts with the de facto rulers of Afghanistan.

In March this year, some countries, including Pakistan, were close to legitimising the Taliban rule but withheld their decisions at the last moment, citing lack of progress on commitments made by the Taliban on certain issues.

As the Taliban are completing one year in power next month, the spokesperson, while giving Pakistan’s assessment noted the improved security situation in Afghanistan but said the humanitarian and economic situation was “quite grave”.

“And there is increasing understanding that some kind of engagement with the interim Afghan authorities is essential to address this situation. So it is in that context, that different countries, at different levels, they are in touch or engaged with the Afghan interim authorities,” he added, while explaining the rationale behind engaging with the Taliban despite not recognising them.

“So some [countries] are maintaining embassies there, Pakistan is one [of them]. There are other countries, who are maintaining embassies in Afghanistan. So if you would like to link it to the question of recognition, it's not about that,” he added.

Responding to a recent UN report that highlighted the threat posed by al-Qaeda, Daesh-Khorasan and the Tehreek-e-Taliban, Pakistan (TTP), Asim Iftikhar said that one of the expectations from Taliban from the international community, vis-a-vis the interim authorities in Afghanistan was that the Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism against any one.

“This expectation remains there. I think this is a collective responsibility, because this is not a new problem. Some of these groups have been there for a long time, and this problem has existed and lingered on,” the spokesperson said.

“I think one of the ways to address this problem is to engage with the Afghan authorities to help them in different ways – in capacity building and other assistance that would enable them to effectively tackle some of these groups because as we have said, on many occasions, this is a threat that is common to all.”

The spokesperson noted that these groups posed a threat to the stability of Afghanistan itself as well as to Pakistan and other countries in the region and globally. “So it needs to be addressed in a cooperative manner,” Asim Iftikhar stressed.

Iranian envoy

Meanwhile, Iran’s Special Representative to the President on Afghanistan Hassan Kazemi Ghomi, called on Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. During the meeting, Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected Afghanistan.

The foreign minister underscored the importance of close cooperation between Pakistan and Iran on matters relating to Afghanistan, including refugee management, regional security, and institutional mechanisms.

Bilawal highlighted provision of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by Pakistan, including recent relief efforts in wake of the devastating earthquake in eastern Afghanistan on June 22, 2022.
He also reiterated the importance of continued constructive engagement and practical cooperation with the interim Afghan government in order to promote the objective of sustainable peace and security in the region.

On the bilateral ties, the foreign minister expressed Pakistan’s keen desire to further strengthen relations with Iran, which are rooted deep in common faith, shared history, and cultural affinities. He also highlighted the importance of regular exchanges to advance economic and trade relations, energy cooperation, regional security and connectivity.

Special Envoy Ghomi noted that Iran associated high importance to its relations with Pakistan. He appreciated the constructive role played by Pakistan in Afghanistan and underscored that peace and stability in Afghanistan were essential pre-requisites for the region’s long-term stability and prosperity.

Earlier, the Iranian special representative met his Pakistani counterpart, Ambassador (retd) Mohammad Sadiq. Both sides discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan and highlighted the importance of pursuing continuous and practical engagement, and reviewed various trade and connectivity initiatives in the region.

Express Tribune
 
Another Jirga leaves for Kabul to hold talks with Pakistani Taliban
Pakistan has sent another tribal Jirga to Afghanistan apparently to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban militants based in the war-torn country

PESHAWAR: Pakistan on Saturday sent another tribal Jirga to Afghanistan apparently to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban militants based in the war-torn country.

A 12-member Jirga left for Kabul only a day after the Pakistani Ulema (religious scholars) returned from Afghanistan. The religious leaders had gone to Kabul on July 25 and came back on July 29. Pakistan’s prominent religious figure, Mufti Mohammad Taqi Usmani, headed the Ulema delegation. Besides meeting with top leaders of the Afghan Taliban, including Afghanistan’s acting prime minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, the religious leaders also held two meetings with the Pakistani Taliban. The first meeting was very brief in which the two sides introduced themselves and then concluded soon after Mufti Taqi Usmani offered Dua for the success of the peace process.

It was Maulana Mohammad Tayyab, Ameer of Ishaat-ud-Tauheed wa Sunnah, who requested Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund during the meeting to help them arrange another session with the Pakistani Taliban. Mullah Hasan and interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani then organised the second meeting in which the two sides openly discussed issues pertaining to the peace process. Now when the Ulema have returned, the tribal elders are there to resume the peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan this time sent a small Jirga of 12 people as a 53-member tribal Jirga had gone to Kabul last time in June this year. And only 20 of them took part in talks with the militant leaders.

Former Senator and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur Rahman group leader from South Waziristan led the previous Jirga, and upon their return, they claimed to have achieved 90 per cent of the targets in the peace process with the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leadership. Their major success was no doubt convincing the TTP leadership to prolong the ceasefire for an indefinite time, particularly till the time the peace process was in progress.

Maulana Saleh Shah, who had led the Jirga, had a long history of facilitating and holding peace negotiations between the Pakistani government and Taliban militants in the past. Afghanistan’s acting interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, head of the erstwhile Haqqani Network, has been playing a crucial role in the peace process. According to official sources, most of the jirga members had held talks with the TTP leadership in June and would resume the same peace process. The Taliban, sources said, had welcomed the Jirga members and vowed to help them restore peace in Pakistan, but they refused to compromise on some of their demands. The Taliban wanted the government to restore the previous status of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and were adamant to return to Pakistan along with their arms. Pakistan in return had offered to free hundreds of Taliban prisoners from jails and take back criminal cases against them in the courts. Also, Pakistan wanted the Taliban to dismantle its network and disassociate its links with other militant and terrorist organisations.

According to the TTP sources, they welcomed the peace process and sincerely participated in the talks. But they felt that sending jirgas with no powers was merely a futile exercise. “We had seen progress whenever military officials themselves held talks with us as they have the power of making decisions. I must say it is a waste of time and resources when Jirgas are sent to us,” one TTP leader, privy to the peace process, told The News. Pleading anonymity, he said the Jirgas were sent to make appeals to the Taliban to ease their conditions, which he claimed was almost impossible.

Meanwhile, Taliban sources also said that one of their members, Maulana Gul Mohammad, during a meeting with the Pakistani religious leaders on Friday had termed their attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar and killing innocent students and their teachers as their biggest mistake.

The News PK
 
Tribal jirga returns from Kabul after talks with TTP

PESHAWAR: After two days of talks with members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the tribal jirga returned from Kabul on Monday.

Though some of the jirga members, as usual, were hopeful of the peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, others stated there was no immediate breakthrough in their negotiations, saying “it requires enough time as well as energy to continue the peace process and find an amicable solution to this complicated conflict,” one of the jirga members told The News upon their return to Peshawar from Kabul.

The jirga had left for the Afghan capital the day when another delegation of prominent Pakistani religious leaders had returned from the war-torn country. According to the jirga members, they thoroughly discussed with the Pakistani Taliban the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and their return to Pakistan and then rehabilitation in their native areas.

“It is difficult to say whether we got any success in talks with the militants as it requires several sessions. This is not a simple issue as there are legal complications and we need to keep these genuine issues in mind,” one of the jirga members told The News on condition of anonymity.

The government wants the Pakistani Taliban to dismantle their militant network, disassociate from other militant organisations and lay down arms before returning to Pakistan, but they stick to these demands in their talks with the Pakistani Ulema and the tribal jirga.

According to another jirga member, they held two detailed sessions with the Pakistani Taliban and mostly discussed the Fata merger. “Our talks with the Taliban were mostly about the Fata merger. We spoke in detail and explained to them that the restoration of Fata isn’t that much simple as conceived by many people,” the jirga member explained.

Asked if there was any success in their latest meetings with Taliban, he said they were not hopeless of the peace process. He said there was no way the Pakistani tribes in the tribal districts will allow the Taliban to return with arms. “The rehabilitation of the militants is also a major issue but right now we focused on the Fata merger which is their basic concern,” he said.

The tribal elder said that the merger came as a result of an amendment to the Constitution and it was the parliament that passed the law and constitutionally declared Fata as part of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“If you ask me, peace talks should continue, no doubt there might be difficult phases,” the tribal elder noted. He said they had realised in talks with the Taliban that they were supportive of the peace process, but since legal issues are involved, therefore, it is not an easy task to immediately accept all their demands.

“We are going to brief high-ranking security officials about the outcome of our talks on Tuesday and will then make a future plan,” he said. The same jirga had visited Afghanistan in June and held talks with the Pakistani Taliban. The jirga members also met the Afghan Taliban and informed them about the peace process and the hurdles they were facing.

The News PK
 
‘No more’: Al-Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri killed in US drone strike
US President Joe Biden says ‘justice has been delivered’ after al-Qaeda leader located and killed in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan, United States President Joe Biden has said.

Al-Zawahiri was killed on Sunday in the biggest blow to the group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.

“Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more,” Biden said in a special televised address from outside the White House.

Intelligence had located al-Zawahiri’s family in Kabul earlier this year, Biden said, adding that no civilians or members of Al-Zawahiri’s family had been killed in the attack.

An Egyptian surgeon with a $25m reward on his head, al-Zawahiri helped coordinate the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US that killed nearly 3,000 people.

Earlier, US officials speaking on the condition of anonymity told reporters earlier that the CIA carried out a drone attack in the Afghan capital Kabul using two missiles.

Al-Zawahiri was on his balcony at the time, they said.

“It’s a significant blow,” Colin Clarke, research director at the Soufan Group, a global security firm, told Al Jazeera, adding that his presence in Kabul was also interesting in what it suggested about his relationship with the Taliban.

“It tells us he’s gotten far more comfortable over the past years since the Taliban took over,” Clarke said.

The Taliban confirmed the attack in Kabul, and condemned it as a “violation of international principles”.

A US official said earlier that al-Zawahiri’s presence in Kabul was a “clear violation” of the ‘Doha Agreement’ that Washington and the Taliban signed in 2020.

That deal paved the way for the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces in return for a guarantee from the Taliban not to allow groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) to operate on Afghan soil. The US forces withdrew just before an August 31 deadline in what turned out to be a chaotic exercise, ending the longest war in US history.

Al Jazeera
 
Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq on Wednesday said that the success of talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) depended on the behavior of the banned group.

He was speaking at the launch of a book, titled “Evolving Situation in Afghanistan: International and National Perspectives” in Islamabad.

In his speech today, Sadiq said that the Afghan Taliban had proven to be helpful in Pakistan's talks with TTP, which he claimed were at a nascent stage.

"Their success would depend upon the behavior of TTP."

Sadiq’s remarks come ahead of a roadside bomb attack that killed key TTP leader Omar Khalid Khorasani in Afghanistan’s Paktika province along with two other leaders.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack.

In a statement on Tuesday, the TTP spokesman said that Khorasani was a part of the TTP team negotiating with Pakistani officials and tribal jirga.

It is pertinent to mention here that Khorasani's killing is expected to affect talks between the TTP and the country that have been ongoing since June this year.

'Pressure on Afghan leadership'

Meanwhile, talking about the neighbouring country, the Pakistani envoy opposed exerting pressure on the Taliban government — which first took control of Kabul on August 15, 2021.

“Since August, forceful calls for inclusivity by the international community have increased pressure on the Islamic Emirate’s leadership.

"Political structures have traditionally been considered as a country’s internal issue. Therefore, we cannot be too prescriptive in this regard,” Sadiq told the participants.

He insisted that the path of reconciliation and inclusion would lead to more stable and prosperous outcomes than politics of exclusion and confrontation.

Furthermore, the Pakistani special envoy backed calls for the reopening of girls' higher secondary schools, highlighting that the international community is expecting unequivocal actions regarding girls’ education from the Afghan authorities.

“Opening of girls’ secondary schools will not only signal to the international community an openness on behalf of the interim Afghan government but will also ensure Afghanistan’s long-term societal progress,” he said, adding that “being neighbors with deep cultural and religious affinities, we may be sympathetic to certain points of views and nuances, but we believe in the right to education for everyone as a fundamental human right.”

Over the last few months, Pakistan has been urging the international community to remain constructively engaged with Afghanistan.

The international community’s focus should not be diverted from the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan owing to events taking place elsewhere, Sadiq said.

'Peace improved in Afghanistan'

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmed Khan, while giving his keynote address, shed light on a number of factors.

He explained that peace and security in the country had significantly improved since the Taliban takeover, pointing out that accessibility had improved in several parts of the country.

This, he said, had been also confirmed by the United Nations' presence there. "In the past two decades, rural Afghans faced the problem of night raids, but this is not the case today."

While talking about the economy, Ahmed stated that after the US withdrawal, the Afghan economy had been domesticated. "With the absence of 12 to 13 billion dollars in the reserves, the country presently has 3 billion only, which is a stark contrast."

He went on that the Afghan government was constructively engaged with the international community and the presence of its diplomatic corps was a testament to it.

'Shared vision'

Afghan former deputy foreign minister Jawed Ludin, on the other hand, said that the Taliban ascension has been a turning point for Afghanistan.

He said that the region had a shared vision and a common platform for active engagement was required.

Ambassador Ludin reiterated that Pakistan’s regional approach was worth appreciating and that highlighted the country's ownership of the issue.

He added that the region has a shared past with Afghanistan and should have a shared future as well, with a vision encompassing unity and peace.

DAWN
 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session has sparked a fresh diplomatic row between Pakistan and the Afghan interim government, which on Saturday denied the presence of any armed groups on Afghan soil.

On one hand, the prime minister urged the international community to remain engaged with the Afghan Taliban but on the other, he shared global concerns over the presence of terrorist groups on Afghan soil.
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Shehbaz particularly mentioned the threat posed by the major terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, especially ISIL-K and TTP as well as Al-Qaeda, ETIM and IMU. "They all need to be dealt with comprehensively, with the support and cooperation of the interim Afghan authorities," he insisted. His statement, however, was not taken well by the Afghan interim government, which put out a statement rejecting the allegations.

A formal reaction issued by the Afghan foreign ministry stated that some countries, including the United States and Pakistan, expressed concerns at the 77th session of the UNGA that the threat of terrorism still exists in Afghanistan.

“These concerns are based on incorrect information and sources and are being brought up as the relevant parties are yet to hand over the seat of Afghanistan at the United Nations to its rightful legal and political owners, the Afghan government,” the Afghan foreign ministry spokesperson claimed.

“If this right is indeed afforded to the Afghan government, it will open an opportunity to directly share ground realities of Afghanistan with regional and world countries and address any concerns,” the statement added.

The spokesperson said that the Islamic Emirate once again rejected such assertions and reiterated its position to the world. He added that the territory of Afghanistan will not be used against any other country nor does any armed group currently have a presence in Afghanistan.

“Rather than raising unsubstantiated concerns and allegations, the world should engage positively with the Islamic Emirate by sharing their view and concerns directly and not through the media or public statements,” he said.

Since the Taliban takeover, Pakistan has remained an advocate of the de-facto rulers of Afghanistan at the world forums. Islamabad has been consistently urging the international community, particularly the western world not to abandon the war-torn country.

But despite Pakistan’s push for international engagement, it is not happy with the Afghan Taliban government in dealing with the threat posed by terrorist groups, particularly the banned TTP.

Although the Afghan Taliban brokered a ceasefire deal between Pakistan and the TTP, terrorist attacks from across the border continue to take place.

Recently, Pakistan wrote a letter to the Afghan government about the presence of banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar in Afghanistan. Islamabad asked Kabul to arrest the most wanted man and asked them to hand him over to Pakistan.

The interim Afghan government, however, rejected those allegations and insisted that Azhar was not present on Afghan soil.

It was the lack of progress on tackling terror threats that prevented any moves leading towards the recognition of the Taliban government.

Unlike in the past, this time Pakistan is treading carefully in recognising the Taliban government. Pakistan has decided to go along with the regional and international countries on the issue of recognition.

Officials here feel that the Taliban, after initial steps, have not taken measures to fulfil the commitments made with the international community.

Express Tribune
 
Terror attacks in Pakistan surge by 51pc after Afghan Taliban victory

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan witnessed a record 51pc increase in the number of terrorist attacks in a single year after the Afghan Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August last year as a result of the withdrawal of the US forces.

As many as 433 people were killed and 719 injured in 250 attacks in Pakistan between August 15, 2021, and August 14, 2022, Islamabad-based think tank, Pak Institute of Peace Studies (Pips) data revealed.

In comparison, it said, the country witnessed 165 attacks that killed 294 people and injured 598 others from August 2020 to August 14, 2021.

These were some of the findings shared in the fifth issue of Pips’ Paper Series released on Wednesday.

The purpose of these analytical papers is to expand the knowledge base of key stakeholders on Pakistan’s Afghan perspective, and its role and interest in Afghan peace and reconciliation.

“The mindless jubilation over Taliban victory is now turning into a rude shock because the evolving security situation under the erratic Taliban rule indicates Pakistan is about to face yet another ordeal viz-a-viz terrorism,” the think-tank said.

The issue while quoting a United Nations report said there was no sign that the Taliban regime was taking steps to limit the activities of foreign terrorist groups on Afghan soil. It added that as per the UN report foreign terrorist groups based in Afghanistan take the Taliban victory as a motivation to disseminate their propaganda in Central and South Asia, and globally.

Key terror outfits with active presence in Afghanistan include Al-Qaeda, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K). So far, the Taliban have acted only against the IS-K because it actively challenges the group’s rule.

The issue underlined that there was a wave of fear and panic among residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the reported return of TTP militants from Afghanistan in recent months.

The publication while quoting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said more than 300,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan since the Taliban takeover.

The figure contests Pakistani authorities’ claim that about 60,000 to 70,000 Afghans entered Pakistan since August last year.

The issue included two papers expected to demonstrate an overall understanding of a variety of viewpoints and positions mainly around emerging events and developments in Afghanistan and their implications for Pakistan and the region.

The first paper, by Ahmed Ali, evaluated the post-US militant landscape of Afghanistan and its implications for Pakistan in terms of insecurity and terrorist violence. Apart from discussing the state’s responses to tackle extremism and terrorism, the paper also provided a set of policy recommendations.

The second paper by Urooj Jafri discussed at length Pakistan’s challenges and policy responses in the face of Afghan refugees and border control.

The author held with the latest developments, Pakistan, like other countries in the region, officially resisted accepting a new influx of refugees. However, Pakistan still had an opportunity to win the hearts and minds of Afghan people with a sympathetic visa policy and facilitation of cross-border movement.

DAWN
 
Pak-Afghan trade restored at Chaman border after over a week's closure
Pakistan and Afghanistan's security forces personnel shake hands after reopening of border crossing in Chaman

The Pak-Afghan trade and cross-border movement at Chaman border has been restored after more than a week's closure since the armed attack from Afghanistan that martyred a Frontier Corps (FC) soldier and injured another two.

Security forces personnel from Pakistan and Afghanistan shook hands after the reopening of the border crossing.

The civil and military border forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to reopen the border crossing — known as Friendship Gate — today (Monday) for all types of trade and communication.

Trade activities and other cross-border movements were halted under the border closure after unidentified armed men opened fire on the Pakistani security troops from inside Afghanistan, martyring an FC soldier and injuring two others on November 13.

Customs officials said that customs clearance and immigration operations have been resumed. They said that the export of fresh stock of Pakistani dry fruits to Central Asia, and import of tomatoes and onions from Afghanistan has also been restored through the Friendship Gate.

Meanwhile, the authorities said that the security forces on both sides of the border have been put on high alert.

The authorities from both countries agreed to reopen the border today (Monday) after talks in multiple flag meetings. In the latest emergency flag meeting, they also agreed to foil subversion and deploy unarmed personnel from both countries.

During the meeting, the Afghan delegation condemned the firing incident and promised to arrest and punish those involved.

A 10-member delegation from Pakistan had attended the meeting.

The News PK
 
PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN AGREE ON SUSTAINED BILATERAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday agreed on the significance of sustained bilateral political dialogue and the vital role of institutional mechanisms to advance the myriad tracks of bilateral relations.

The two sides also emphasised the importance of Afghanistan as a land bridge between Central Asia and South Asia and its pivotal role in promoting regional connectivity including through transportation links and mega energy projects such as Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline and the Central Asia-South Asia project (CASA-1000).

During her one-day official visit to Afghanistan, the Minister Of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar held meetings with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Minister for Mines and Petroleum Shahabuddin Delawar, and Commerce Minister of Afghan Interim Government, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, the Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson said in a press release.

The two sides discussed matters related to enhanced regional security with mutual cooperation, including countering terrorism, and issues and policies which would impact the interim Government’s engagement with the international community.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected Afghanistan.

She also reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to further deepen and strengthen multifaceted ties between the two countries and build an enduring partnership for shared prosperity.

The minister of state underscored the imperatives for the international community to practically engage with the Interim Afghan Government to help Afghanistan address the dire humanitarian situation and the challenges of reconstruction and socio-economic development.

She also stressed that the unfreezing of Afghanistan’s financial assets would contribute to this end.

During these meetings, a range of bilateral issues of common interest including cooperation in education, health, agriculture, trade and investment, regional connectivity, people-to-people contacts and socioeconomic projects were discussed.

“Today’s visit of the Minister of State was a manifestation of the high importance Pakistan attaches to its longstanding fraternal relationship with Afghanistan,” the spokesperson said.

The minister of state also held a luncheon meeting with representatives of the Women Chamber of Commerce, the state news agency reported.

She emphasized the important role of women in Afghan society and expressed Pakistan’s keen desire to strengthen linkages between women entrepreneurs of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

She announced that Pakistan would give special preference to import of products produced by businesses run by Afghan women.

ARY
 
Six killed in new fighting on Afghanistan-Pakistan border

At least six people, including five civilians, were killed Sunday in fresh clashes between the Taliban and the Pakistan Army in the town of Spin Boldak, located on the common border, amid tensions in recent months in the area.

Hayi Zaid, a spokesman for the governor of the Afghan province of Kandahar, said in statements to the Afghan television channel Tolo TV that one Taliban was killed and ten were wounded in the clashes, which resulted in the wounding of a Pakistani soldier. Five civilians were also killed and 20 others wounded.

There are no details at the moment on the causes of the clashes, which follow the death of a Pakistani military officer in November in an exchange of fire at the border crossing, which led to its closure for more than a week.

It also comes days after an attack on the Pakistani embassy in Kabul and after the armed group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, announced the end of a truce announced as part of a series of contacts with Islamabad that were mediated by the Afghan Taliban.

Afghan and Pakistani authorities agreed in January to form a joint ministerial committee to resolve disputes over the 2,640-kilometer Durand Line, which marks the border between the two countries.

The Durand Line was established in 1893 following an agreement between the then British Foreign Secretary in India, Mortimer Durand, and Afghan Amir Abdur Rahman Khan to delimit spheres of influence.

Following Pakistan's independence, Islamabad came to recognize it as its border with Afghanistan, although Kabul took no such step. This line divides the Pashtun and Baloch communities living on both sides of the border, which has led to disputes in both countries.

MSN
 
At least six people were killed and 17 others sustained injuries on Sunday when Afghan Border Forces opened “unprovoked and indiscriminate fire” on the civilian population in Balochistan’s Chaman district, the army’s media wing said.
 
‘Not in keeping with brotherly ties’: FO condemns ‘unprovoked’ shelling by Afghan forces in Chaman

• ISPR says ‘measured response’ given to uncalled-for aggression, which injured 16
• Kandahar official says one security man killed, 13 injured on Afghan side
• FO says such incidents not ‘in keeping with brotherly ties’
• Border crossing closed for a few hours

QUETTA: At least seven people lost their lives and 16 others suffered injuries on Sunday in Chaman, which came under heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by Afghan border forces, the military’s media wing said.

Pakistani troops retaliated against the “unprovoked and indiscriminate” fire, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, without giving details of any losses on the other side.

The ISPR described the incident as “uncalled-for aggression” and said Pakistani troops had given a “befitting” but “measured response” and avoided targeting civilians on the other side.

It said Pakistani authorities had approached their counterparts in Kabul to highlight the “severity” of the situation, demanding strict action to prevent a repeat of such incidents.

The Foreign Office condemned the shelling, saying “such unfortunate incidents are not in keeping with the brotherly ties between the two countries”.

“The Afghan authorities have been informed that recurrence of such incidents must be avoided and strictest possible action must be taken against those responsible,” it said in a statement. The FO said authorities in both countries remained in contact to ensure there was no escalation of the situation.

The busy Afghan border crossing at Chaman, used for trade and transit, was closed for a few hours before reopening, officials said. The crossing was closed for several days last month after similar violence.

Officials said the exchange of fire took place between Pakistani and Afghan troops when some people from the other side tried to cut a fence near the border village of Lala Mohammad, which resulted in the closing of the Friendship Gate at the Chaman border crossing. However, after half an hour, the border was reopened for traffic and pedestrians.

A little later, Afghan forces started firing between Shoukat and Ilyas Pakistani border posts, prom*pting a response from Pakistani troops, officials said, adding that Afghan troops then started using artillery and mortar shells, targeting civilian settlements.

Some mortar shells landed on a road leading to the border area and the Nato market.

In Afghanistan, however, a spokesman for Kandahar’s governor, Ataullah Zaid, appeared to link the clashes with the construction of new checkpoints on the Afghan side of the border, the AP news agency reported.

Incident ‘accidental’

Videos received from Chaman city showed a cloud of dust after a shell fell on the border road near the city, according to the BBC Urdu service.

A person could be heard saying the mortar had just landed. In another video, a person named Ghousullah was saying that five shells had landed. He said one of them fell on the hotel in which three people were killed. One shell fell on the shop in which people must have been injured while two shells fell in the garden.

Zahid Saleem, additional chief secretary for Balochistan’s home and tribal affairs, told Dawn that an emergency had been declared in Chaman and Quetta hospitals.

Dr Rasheed Tareen, deputy medical superintendent at the Chaman district hospital, told Dawn the hospital had received six bodies that received splinters of mortars and artillery shells. Of the injured, seven were in critical condition, he said, adding: “We are referring the critically wounded to Quetta.”

As for casualties on the Afghan side, the ISPR statement was silent, and so was Afghan official Noor Ahmad, who spoke to Reuters from Kandahar, the province on the Afghan side of the border.

Mr Ahmad said the incident was “accidental” and the situation had returned to normal after the two sides had a meeting.

However, Mr Zaid, the Kandahar governor’s spokesman, told local media in Chaman by phone that one Afghan security man was killed and 13 people were injured, including 10 soldiers and three civilians.

Officials condemn attack

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo expressed concern over the incident. “I hope the federal government will ensure an immediate and effective solution to this problem at the diplomatic level.”

He ordered the district administration of Chaman to provide full support to the people affected.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah condemned the attack and requested the Balochistan government to provide full support and assistance to the affected citizens.

“Details are being collected regarding the tragic incident that took place on the Pak-Afghan Chaman border,” he said on Twitter, adding that news about the deaths of Pakistani citizens was “extremely painful and saddening”.

Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said the “unprovoked shelling” was a “shameful act”.

“Pakistani forces took the best action by not targeting the Afghan civilian population as part of retaliatory action,” he tweeted. “The Afghan government should bring the reasons for the attack forward and bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.”

PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack and regretted the loss of lives. “The peaceful policy of the Pakistan Army in the region should not be considered a weakness,” he warned.

Former information minister Fawad Chaudhry said the PTI had been drawing attention to the “deterioration of relations with Afghanistan” for several months, adding that the incident was only further evidence about that.

Condemning the incident, he questioned who was responsible for the state of relations with Afghanistan and the rise in terrorism.

DAWN
 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned the firing by Afghan Border Forces on the civilian population in Balochistan’s Chaman district a day earlier and called on the interim government in Kabul to ensure that such incidents were not repeated in the future.

At least seven people lost their lives and 16 others suffered injuries on Sunday in Chaman when it came under “unprovoked and indiscriminate” heavy gunfire and artillery shelling by Afghan border forces, according to the military’s media affairs wing.

The incident has been widely condemned across the political divide in Pakistan, with PM Shehbaz’s among the latest denunciations.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1725976/s...nsure-such-incidents-are-not-repeated-shehbaz
 
At least one person was killed while 12 others were injured in firing from across the Afghan border, the Chaman deputy commissioner said on Thursday.

Chaman Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hameed Zehri confirmed the number of casualties to Dawn.com.

Earlier, Balochistan Health Department Media Coordinator Dr Waseem Baig said the injured had been shifted to the Chaman District Headquarters Hospital.

The official said that an emergency had been declared at hospitals in Chaman in light of the current situation.

DAWN
 
The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on Thursday called for a review of Pakistan’s Afghan policy in the wake of the attitude of the Taliban government in Kabul towards Islamabad as seen during recent weeks and months.

The committee met at the Parliament House with Chairman Farooq Hamid Naek in the chair. The committee received a briefing from Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed on several issues, including the recent attack on the Pakistan Embassy building in Kabul.

“We became spokespersons for Afghanistan in the world, but the Afghan government often opposes Pakistan,” Naek said, adding that Pakistan stood by Afghanistan even against the wishes of the Western countries, but Afghanistan did not value this support.

“Afghanistan always trains its gun at Pakistan,” he added.

Expressing serious concerns over the recent assassination attempt on the Pakistan head of mission in Kabul, Naek told the meeting that India was hostile towards Pakistan but the skirmishes on the border were not as frequent as those with Afghan forces.

“There is a dire need to review Pakistan’s policy towards Afghanistan.”

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed told the committee that Islamabad wanted peace and stability in Afghanistan because the atmosphere of tension there also affected Pakistan as well. He admitted that managing Pakistan’s borders with Afghanistan was a difficult challenge.

Majeed briefed the committee regarding the murderous attack on the Pakistani envoy in Kabul. He said that the outlawed Islamic State-Khorasan had claimed responsibility for the attack, adding that the Afghan government had assured that the people involved in the incident would not be spared.

The secretary said that Pakistan Ambassador Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani was walking in the embassy garden when a volley of shots were fired at him earlier this month. “Eight sniper shots and hundreds of bullets were fired, but the Pakistani ambassador miraculously survived,” he added.

The secretary revealed that a security guard of the embassy was hit by two bullets and was shifted to Peshawar by helicopter.

According to the Afghan officials, the foreign secretary said, the sniper had been captured and investigation was ongoing.

Meanwhile, the chair expressed its anguish at the complaints of harassment of the Pakistan community in Rwanda by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Naek said Pakistan had on-arrival visa facility in Rwanda, yet the FIA harassed the returning passengers.

Later, the committee chair handed over the written complaints from the Pakistani high commissioner in Rwanda to the FIA officials and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sought a detailed written response regarding all these complaints in the next meeting.

Express Tribune
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires in Islamabad and issued a “strong condemnation” over the recent incidents of “unprovoked cross-border shelling” by Afghan Border Security Forces in the Chaman-Spin Boldak area.

“It was reiterated that the protection of civilians remained the responsibility of both sides and that the recurrence of these incidents must be prevented. It was agreed to use established institutional mechanisms in this regard,” a press release issued by the FO said.

“Pakistan remains committed to maintaining fraternal relations with Afghanistan. Peace along the Pak-Afghan border is intrinsic to this end,” it added.

The FO statement comes a day after armed clashes erupted between security forces from Pakistan and Afghanistan at the border in Chaman, leaving at least one dead and 15 others injured.


In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the military’s media wing — said indiscriminate fire from inside Afghanistan on the civilian population of Chaman, which continued intermittently through the day, left many innocent civilians injured.

However, Kabul appeared to blame Pakistan for the act of aggression. In a post on Twitter, the Taliban ministry of defence claimed that Pakistani forces had opened fire first, and called for a resolution of the issue through negotiations.

Earlier on Sunday, shelling by Afghan forces and a subsequent gun battle in the area had left eight dead and over a dozen injured, while at least one Afghan soldier was also killed in the exchange of fire.

There was no official word from the Foreign Office or Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had told parliament earlier this week that Kabul had apologised for Sunday’s incident and said they would take steps to ensure that such an event did not occur again.
 
Pakistan ‘disappointed’ by Taliban ban on university education for girls but still wants engagement

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday voiced disappointment over the Taliban’s ban on university education for women but said the best approach remained engagement with Afghanistan’s rulers.

“I’m disappointed by the decision that was taken today,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on a visit to Washington.

But he said: “I still think the easiest path to our goal — despite having a lot of setbacks when it comes to women’s education and other things — is through Kabul and through the interim government.”

Bilawal said there were no alternatives to the Taliban, warning of further instability in Afghanistan or the rise of the Islamic State group.

“Is the alternative for us to imagine that we can somehow artificially stitch together an alternate opposition that can command the same sort of legitimacy?”

The Taliban, who had initially promised a softer approach than during their 1996-2001 regime, on Tuesday banned university education for women after already closing down secondary schooling for girls.

The United States, whose troop withdrawal from Afghanistan last year precipitated the collapse of the Western-backed government, warned that the Taliban decision could permanently end any hopes by the militants for a positive relationship.

But Bilawal said it was even more crucial to ensure economic support “to create the political space necessary for those within the Afghan regime who actually believe that they should deliver” on rights issues.

DAWN
 
Dollar flight to Kabul continues unabated

He said that two months ago the Kabul regime stated that all Pakistani currency should be converted into dollar or other foreign currencies. Keeping more than 0.5m Pakistani rupee is prohibited in Kabul and any person found with such amount of PKR would be tried under the anti-money laundering laws.

“For 42 years Afghans have been trading in PKR. They have hundreds of billions of PKR. But now they are buying dollars from Pakistan at any cost. They will siphon off the entre dollars from Pakistani markets,” Mr Bostan warned, adding that Pakistan must take up the matter with the Kabul government.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1728433/dollar-flight-to-kabul-continues-unabated
 
The Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that Pakistan was engaging with Afghan authorities on “all issues” including better border management, upgrading the security of diplomats, and curbing terrorism.

“Afghanistan has given certain assurances and we hope the promises made will be honored,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

Her remarks come against the backdrop of a spate of recent terrorism incidents in the country, believed to have been planned and directed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders based in Afghanistan.

The TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban, has executed around 115 attacks so far this year, most of which happened after August this year when the group’s peace talks with the Pakistan government began to falter. The ceasefire was formally ended last month by the TTP.

DAWN
 
The Taliban regime in Kabul has angrily reacted to a statement of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in which he said that Pakistan could carry out cross-border military action against the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which has been using its safe havens in Afghanistan as a springboard for its new terror campaign.

Sanaullah, who believes the TTP has between 7,000 and 10,000 foot soldiers, warned in a TV interview last week that the Pakistani forces could target the TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan’s border regions, if Kabul did not listen to requests for action against them.

“Afghanistan is our brotherly country and we will first talk to them to dismantle the TTP hideouts… but if they don’t then the international laws give you the right to target those who attack you,” Sanaullah said while speaking in an Express News show.

In Kabul, the Ministry of National Defense said it considers Sanaullah’s claim about the presence of TTP in Afghanistan and his threat of possible attack inside Afghanistan as “provocative and baseless”.

“It damages the good relations between the two neighbouring and brotherly countries with such claims by Pakistani officials despite the existence of evidence indicating that the (TTP) centres are inside Pakistan,” the defense ministry said in a statement posted on its official Twitter handle.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/239380...rder-action-on-ttp-safe-havens-as-provocative
 
Defence minister says Afghan soil being used against Pakistan despite agreement

• Civil, military leadership issue ‘subtle warning’ to Afghan Taliban following Kabul’s reaction to Rana Sana’s ‘threat’ of cross-border action • Huddle backs road map for restoration of economic stability; provincial apex committees to be revived • Defence minister says Afghan soil being used against Pakistan despite agreement

ISLAMABAD: The Nat*ional Security Committee (NSC) on Monday categorically asked Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, without directly naming them, to deny safe haven to Pakistani terrorist groups on its soil and end their patronage, while reiterating its intent to crush terrorist groups operating inside the country with full force.

The uncharacteristically strong-worded statement issued at the end of the NSC meeting, which spanned two days, said: “Pakistan’s security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of the (sic) Pakistan’s territory.”

The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key ministers, services chiefs, and top intelligence officials, also endorsed the government’s road map for restoration of economic stability in the country.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1729678/nsc-vows-to-crush-terrorist-groups-with-full-force
 
Expressing dismay, the Afghan Taliban have urged Pakistan to "refrain" from making statements that "hurt the feelings, stability and trust" between the two countries.

A statement issued by the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated that "Afghanistan seeks good diplomatic relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan", adding that good diplomatic ties were crucial to development.

Read December '22 deadliest month for security personnel in a decade

However, the spokesman said that "Islamabad's statements over Afghanistan are undesirable", as he stressed that "the Islamic Emirate would not allow its land to be used to spread militancy and distability against a neighbouring country".

Simultaneously, he said that "we demand that Islamabad take measures to control unrest, militancy and the law and order situation".

"Afghanistan is trying to stabilise its own law and order situation and carries a similar positive approach towards its neighbours," the statement added vowing to "continue the same approach in the region" in the future.
 
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday that Daesh militants involved in the attack on Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul have been killed in an operation.

Daesh militants involved in Pakistan Embassy attack killed: Afghan spokesperson

Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday that Daesh militants involved in the attack on Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul has been killed in an operation.
 
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday slammed the coalition government’s “irresponsible statements” against the Afghan government, warning that a deterioration in ties could lead to a “never-ending” war against terrorism.

Over the past few months, terrorism has been rearing its head again in the country, especially in KP and Balochistan. Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist attacks across the country, believed to have been planned and directed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders based in Afghanistan.

DAWN
 
Pakistani diplomat assumes charge after return to Kabul
The diplomat had remained unhurt in a terror attack on Pakistan’s embassy in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul in December 2022

In an important development between Islamabad and Kabul, Pakistan Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Afghanistan Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani has assumed charge in Kabul after five months. back after an assassination attempt on him at the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul on December 2 last year. He had survived unhurt but one security guard had been critically injured in the attack. The Foreign Office had then confirmed that the target of the attack was Nizamani. Later, the Khorasan chapter of the banned militant outfit Daesh accepted responsibility for the attack, which happened a month after the Pakistan diplomat had taken charge of his office. Until November 4, 2022, before him, Mansoor Ahmed Khan had been the head of the Pakistani mission in Kabul.

Diplomatic sources said on Tuesday that the resumption of office by the Pakistani diplomat in Kabul was an important development prior to a visit by Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad with his country’s delegation in the first week of May. After Nizamani’s return to Kabul, Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi called on him and welcomed him back. During the meeting, Muttaqi was presented with a piece of calligraphic art made by a renowned Pakistani artist. Muttaqi expressed his pleasure at this, terming the piece of art “the mutual foundation” of both countries.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1062274-pakistani-diplomat-assumes-charge-after-return-to-kabul
 
Chinese, Afghan FMs arrive in Islamabad today
Qin and Muttaqi will attend trilateral dialogue on Afghanistan

Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi will arrive here on Friday (today) on a four-day visit to Pakistan to participate in the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.

Muttaqi will lead a high-level delegation, including Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and senior officials from the Afghan ministries of foreign affairs, transport, and trade, the Foreign Office added.

“The visit of the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister is a continuation of Pakistan’s political engagement process with Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office said. It added that Pakistan was committed to pursue practical engagement with the Afghan government.

The 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue will be held on May 6. The Foreign Office said that Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will also participate in the meeting.

During Muttaqi’s visit, the two sides would also “review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations in the political, economic, trade, connectivity, peace and security, and education domains”, according to the Foreign Office statement.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, confirmed that Foreign Minister Qin would visit Pakistan on May 5 to 6 and attend the three-way dialogue on Afghanistan.

...
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2415104/chinese-afghan-fms-arrive-in-islamabad-today
 
COAS stresses need for Afghan 'cooperation' to tackle terrorism in meeting with Muttaqi
In separate meeting with Chinese foreign minister, army chief lauds China's ‘unwavering support’ for Pakistan

In a meeting with the Acting Afghan Minister for Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir stressed the need for "enhanced cooperation" between Pakistan and Afghanistan to effectively tackle the common challenges of terrorism and extremism.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement released today, said that the army chief met with the Afghan minister during the latter's four-day visit to Pakistan leading the Taliban-led administration's high-level delegation for trilateral dialogues and meetings with authorities in Islamabad.

During their meeting, the two dignitaries discussed issues of mutual interest including aspects related to regional security, border management, and formalisation of bilateral security mechanisms for improvement in the current security environment, the military's media wing said.

General Munir also reiterated the need for full support and commitment from the Afghan interim government in matters of mutual interest, the ISPR's statement read.

Meanwhile, FM Muttaqi appreciated Pakistan's traditional support for the people of Afghanistan and acknowledged the important role that Pakistan continues to play in facilitating peace and development in Afghanistan.

He also expressed his desire to work closely with Pakistan to promote regional stability and prosperity, stated the ISPR.

Both the COAS and the Afghan minister agreed on the importance of maintaining regular contacts to strengthen bilateral ties and address issues of common concern.

General Munir, as mentioned by the army's media wing, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

...
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1...n-to-tackle-terrorism-in-meeting-with-muttaqi
 
CPEC will be extended to Afghanistan as trilateral cooperation set to deepen

The foreign ministers of Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and jointly extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan.

Following the trilateral dialogue, the three sides issued a joint statement, expressing their determination to leverage Afghanistan’s potential as a hub for regional connectivity.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang of China, and Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi of Afghanistan participated in the dialogue representing their respective countries.

During the meeting, the three foreign ministers emphasised the significance of ongoing projects such as CASA-1000, TAPI, and Trans-Afghan Railways, highlighting their potential to boost regional connectivity and promote economic development and prosperity in the region.

The three parties emphasised the need to advance “hard connectivity” in infrastructure and “soft connectivity” in norms and standards.

They agreed to explore measures to facilitate the movement of people and trade activities. They also decided to boost transit trade through the Gwadar Port.

The foreign ministers acknowledged that a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interest of the region. They emphasised the critical role of trilateral cooperation in promoting this objective.

...
https://www.dawn.com/news/1751728/c...istan-as-trilateral-cooperation-set-to-deepen
 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Tuesday appointed former ambassador Asif Ali Khan Durrani as Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. The post had been lying vacant since March when Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq resigned as the special representative after having served almost three years. Durrani would be reporting directly to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Fluent in Pashto and Dari spoken widely in Afghanistan, Ambassador Durrani has served in various diplomatic postings, including New Delhi, Tehran, New York, Kabul and London. On Tuesday, Durrani called on Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

The News PK
 
According to Balochistan caretaker information minister John Achakzai, a flagship meeting was held between Pakistan border management officials and border officials of Afghanistan.

Border management issues were discussed in the meeting.

Pakistan was represented by Deputy Commissioner Chaman Raja Athar Abbas, in the flagship meeting the facilities for the evacuation of illegal Afghan refugees were discussed.

According to John Achakzai, the meeting discussed the problems faced by patients and traffic at the border, and agreed to continue consultations to resolve the issues of the One Document Regime and local communities.

Deputy Commissioner Chaman assured his full cooperation for the effective solution of the problems of the local communities.

Source: Dunya News
 
Pak, TTP were close to a deal, claims Afghan FM

Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has claimed that most of the issues between Pakistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had been sorted out and that both were close to striking a deal but Islamabad backed out.

Muttaqi made these claims during a conversation with Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed in Tehran on the sidelines of the conference on Palestine hosted by Iran.

Mushahid, who represented Pakistan at the conference, told The Express Tribune here on Monday on his return from Tehran that he had a detailed informal discussion with Foreign Minister Muttaqi over dinner.

"I didn’t represent the government while talking to Mr Mutaqqi," he clarified, adding that the conversation was based on my informal interaction with the Afghan foreign minister in Tehran, whom he knew from his journalistic days when he was the information minister.

The focus of the discussion was on the current state of relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban on the issue of the banned TTP, according to Mushahid.

The Afghan foreign minister told the Pakistani politician that his country was keen to resolve all issues with Islamabad through dialogue.



tribune.com.pk

Pak, TTP were close to a deal, claims Afghan FM | The Express Tribune

Muttaqi says only outstanding issue was merger of erstwhile Fata
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 
FM Jilani reaffirms commitment to ‘mutually beneficial ties’ with Afghanistan

“During this meeting, as a follow-up to previous sessions, participants will engage in discussions and make essential decisions concerning the resolution of potential conflicts along the Durand Line and the establishment of essential facilities for people on both sides,” it had said.

Akhund, a key figure in the Afghan Taliban, has played various roles in the group’s military and political spheres. His close ties to the senior leadership and involvement in significant Taliban activities make him a prominent and influential member of the Afghan rulers’ leadership structure.

He has previously been engaging with Pakistan and is known to have liaised with the TTP on behalf of the Taliban administration.

Today’s meeting between Jilani and Akhund comes at a time when relations between the two countries have suffered due to a spike in terrorist attacks, mostly claimed by the outlawed militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group.

Islamabad has stated that the TTP and other groups use Afghan soil against Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban have denied the charge and have stated they will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil to be used against the neighbour. But authorities remain unconvinced and have demanded action against the TTP, its sanctuaries and the handover of its leaders.

In November, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar said there was a 60 per cent increase in terrorism and a 500pc spike in suicide bombings since the Afghan Taliban came to power in August 2021.

Meanwhile, a report issued on Wednesday by Islamabad-based think tank Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies said that over 82pc of terrorism-related deaths in 2023 resulted from attacks perpetrated by three major groups, including the TTP and its subsidiaries such as the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan, Islamic State of Khorasan and the Balochistan Liberation Army.

In its Pakistan Security Report for 2023, the think tank said the three groups carried out over 78pc of the total terrorist attacks recorded in the country in the year under review.

Source : Dawn News
 
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