Pakistan’s Foreign Office has warned that the continued presence of militant groups in Afghanistan is undermining efforts to ensure internal stability and economic development in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday (December 18), Tahir Andarabi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the presence of what he described as terrorist elements in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to regional peace and security.
According to Geo News, Andarabi said a recent report by the United Nations Security Council clearly supports Pakistan’s long-standing position and confirms the presence of several active militant organizations on Afghan soil.
He added that militant groups remain the biggest obstacle to building sustainable relations between Pakistan and the Taliban.
The Pakistani official further stated that Islamabad will continue to support sustained diplomatic engagement in the region to address shared security challenges.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe haven to Pakistani militant groups, including the Tehreeke-e-Taliban Pakistan, alleging that these groups use Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban have denied these allegations.
However, the United Nations has confirmed the presence of armed groups in Afghanistan in its reports.
The latest UN Security Council report also points to internal divisions within the Taliban leadership over the issue of the Pakistani Taliban, noting that while some senior Taliban figures view the group as harmful to relations with Pakistan, others continue to support it.
In recent months, tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have escalated into border clashes. Although the fighting ended following mediation by Qatar, talks between the two sides have so far failed to yield results. Pakistan insists that the Taliban provide written guarantees to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to infiltrate Pakistan.
