ISLAMABAD; Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to combating terrorism and urged Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used for hostile activities against Pakistan.
Speaking in the Senate, Dar responded to opposition concerns and said recent talks with Afghan officials, held in Türkiye and Qatar, focused on persuading Kabul to curb cross-border militancy.
Dar named groups operating from Afghan soil, including Fitna al-Khawarij, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and said Pakistan presented concrete evidence of their involvement in attacks on Pakistani territory during the discussions.
He expressed guarded optimism about the next round of meetings with Afghan authorities and said he hoped for constructive engagement and tangible progress.
Acknowledging a rise in terror incidents, Dar warned that violence has reached levels higher than in 2012.
He recalled repeated phone contacts with Afghan Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, saying Muttaqi had called him six times and that he told him: “I only want one thing from you — that your land should not be used against us.” Dar added that the government has resolved to pursue the fight against terrorism to the end.
