Pakistan Raises Alarm Over Cross-Border Militants
Pakistan on Friday reiterated concerns about Afghanistan-based militant groups, warning that they remain a grave threat to regional peace and security. Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan said groups such as Fitna Al-Khwarij, the government’s term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), require collective regional action.
He dismissed recent criticism by Taliban acting Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob, who accused Pakistan of shifting blame for its internal security problems. Calling the remarks “an exercise in irony,” Shafqat Ali underlined that cross-border sanctuaries, noted in UN reports, enable attacks inside Pakistan.
Targeted Operations to Counter Terrorism
The spokesman said Pakistan’s security forces conduct carefully planned operations in border areas to neutralise terrorist threats. “These operations are based on actionable intelligence and executed with precision,” he stressed. He added that while Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty, it remains committed to dialogue and cooperation to address terrorism.
Deportation of Illegal Afghans to Continue
Responding to calls from the UN to pause the expulsion of undocumented Afghans following last week’s earthquake, Shafqat Ali made clear that deportations would proceed as planned. “This is our sovereign decision regarding who we allow to stay in our country,” he said, rejecting the idea of an extension beyond the September 1 deadline.
He emphasised that Pakistan already offers a liberal visa policy, including visit, business, family, education, and medical categories. He urged Germany to expedite the relocation of Afghans it had pledged to resettle after the Taliban’s return to power.
SCO Summit Promotes Multilateralism
On US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, the FO spokesman refrained from direct comment but stressed the event’s focus on “multilateralism, peace, security, and prosperity.” He clarified that the SCO is not aimed against any country.
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