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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said its cross-border military campaign had killed 796 Afghan Taliban fighters and affiliated terrorists as Operation Ghazab lil Haq entered its sixth week, targeting infrastructure used to support attacks inside Pakistan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said more than 855 individuals had been injured during the campaign, launched in late February following what Islamabad describes as sustained cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghan territory. &ldquo;The ongoing operation is targeting terrorist hideouts and military infrastructure used to support attacks against Pakistan,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement posted on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2040779967466971391&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2c868d632965e5febce371e6f7901346dd93b77b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 496px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> According to the minister, Pakistani forces had destroyed 286 check posts and 249 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery systems, while 44 additional posts were captured. He added that 81 locations across Afghanistan, including terrorist hideouts and support infrastructure, had been effectively targeted. Attack on border post repelled Tarar said the latest engagement took place on the night of April 2-3, when an attempt to attack a Pakistani border post in the Ghulam Khan sector was repelled. &ldquo;An attempt to physically attack a border post&hellip; was comprehensively foiled,&rdquo; he said. According to the statement, the attackers suffered heavy casualties. &ldquo;Up to 37 were killed and more than 80 others were injured,&rdquo; Tarar added. In a separate development, security sources said Pakistani forces had eliminated eight terrorists during an infiltration attempt in North Waziristan&rsquo;s Datta Khel area, including two Afghan nationals, underscoring continued cross-border infiltration attempts. Pakistan launched the operation after a series of attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and says the campaign aims to dismantle terrorist camps, logistics hubs and command networks used to plan attacks. The operation was briefly paused during Eid-ul-Fitr before resuming, with officials maintaining that it will continue until security objectives are achieved. Authorities say the campaign is based on verified intelligence and is focused on terrorist infrastructure, as Pakistan seeks to reduce the capacity of groups operating from Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside the country.

Security

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says the latest engagement along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was foiled, with heavy casualties among attackers, as security forces also thwart infiltration attempts and maintain pressure on terrorist networks

Pakistan says 796 Afghan Taliban, terrorists killed as operation enters sixth week

ISLAMABAD: Mosharraf Zaidi, spokesperson to the prime minister on foreign media, said on Tuesday that the Afghan Taliban regime initiated unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Torkham and Tirah sectors.&nbsp;In a post on X, he said Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces &ldquo;responded immediately and effectively, silencing the Taliban aggression.&rdquo;&nbsp;Zaidi warned that any further provocation would be met with an &ldquo;immediate and severe&rdquo; response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026326337695211825&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d9de6d2732cd3795fc9a78059af0dc9350b4e0de&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The exchange follows <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-strikes-7-ttp-iskp-terrorist-camps-near-afghan-border" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan&rsquo;s overnight air strikes</a> over the weekend in Afghanistan&rsquo;s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, where, according to officials, terrorist camps and hideouts were targeted. An official said more than 80 terrorists were killed in the precision strikes.&nbsp;A statement issued by the information ministry in the early hours of Sunday said the strikes were conducted in response to a series of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, including a suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad and multiple attacks in Bannu and Bajaur.&nbsp;The ministry said Pakistan had &ldquo;conclusive evidence&rdquo; that &quot;khwarij&quot; -- terrorists backed by India belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- carried out the attacks at the behest of their Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.&nbsp;Describing the action as a retributive, intelligence-based operation, the statement said seven terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to the TTP, along with affiliates and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), were targeted in the border region.&nbsp;It added that despite repeated efforts by Pakistan urging the Afghan Taliban regime to take verifiable measures to deny the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/russia-estimates-up-to-23000-terrorists-in-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">use of its territory by terrorist groups</a> and foreign proxies for attacks against Pakistan, no substantive action had been taken.

Warns that any further provocation would be met with an “immediate and severe” response, reaffirming that Pakistan would continue to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity.

Afghan Taliban initiated unprovoked firing along border, says PM’s spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: Five India-sponsored terrorists including a suicide bomber were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan&rsquo;s Pishin district, Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing said on Monday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operation was conducted on Sunday following reports of the presence of terrorists belonging to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-24-terrorists-in-khyberpakhtunkhwa-ibos" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian proxy group</a>, described as &ldquo;Fitna al Khwarij.&rdquo; &ldquo;During the operation, own troops effectively engaged the entire group using multiple weapons. After an intense exchange of fire, a suicide bomber blew himself up, while four other India-sponsored terrorists were killed,&rdquo; the statement said. The ISPR added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the dead militants, who were involved in several terrorist activities in the area. Sanitization operations are ongoing to eliminate any other India-sponsored militants found in the vicinity, the statement said. The military said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-officer-martyred-five-terrorists-killed-in-bannu-attack-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">counterterrorism campaign</a>&nbsp;under the vision of &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the security forces for a successful counterterrorism operation, saying they were making great progress against terrorist groups every day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The entire nation stands with Pakistan&#39;s armed forces and law enforcement authorities in this war against terrorists,&rdquo; he added.

ISPR says weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the dead militants, who were involved in several terrorist activities in the area.

Five India-backed terrorists including suicide bomber killed in Balochistan: Military

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistan Army officer was martyred, and five terrorists were killed after security forces foiled a major attack in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Saturday.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorists targeted a security forces convoy in Bannu district during an intelligence-based operation.&nbsp;The operation was launched on reports about the presence of terrorists in the area, including a suicide bomber.&nbsp;ISPR said a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading troops, thwarting what could have been a large-scale attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel in Bannu city.&nbsp;In the ensuing exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed. However, the attackers rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one of the security vehicles.&nbsp;As a result, Lt Colonel Shahzada Gul Faraz, 43, a resident of Mansehra district who was leading his troops from the front, was martyred along with Sepoy Karamat Shah, 28, a resident of Peshawar district.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/0e27c82a-2382-4573-8708-4537a88cbed9-sepoy Karamat Shaheed.jpeg" alt="Sepoy Karamat Shaheed." class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Sepoy Karamat was martyred on Feb. 21 during an operation against terrorists in Bannu district. (Photo: ISPR)</figcaption> The military said the terrorists were operating from Afghan soil and vowed to continue operations under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; campaign to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism.

Lt. Col. Shahzada Gul Faraz was martyred on Feb. 21 while leading an operation against terrorists in Bannu district. (Photo: ISPR)

ISPR says a vehicle-borne suicide bomber was intercepted by the leading troops, thwarting what could have been a large-scale attack on civilians and law enforcement personnel in Bannu city.


Pakistan Army officer martyred, five terrorists killed in Bannu attack: Military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, on Tuesday met Russia&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P. Khorev, to discuss security threats posed by armed groups based in Afghanistan.&nbsp;In a post on X, Sadiq said the two sides reviewed matters of mutual interest, including regional security dynamics and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/afghan-clerics-forbid-use-of-soil-for-crossborder-terrorism" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cross-border terrorism</a>. He noted that coordinated diplomatic efforts were also discussed to address shared security concerns stemming from militant activity in Afghanistan.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023654317803393210&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c4aff7d45fa999c492b8c3fc05352fa678a38b55&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The meeting comes amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">rise in terrorism in Pakistan</a>. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory &mdash; an allegation the Afghan Taliban authorities have denied.&nbsp;International organizations have similarly warned about the presence of various extremist and militant outfits in Afghanistan, cautioning that their activities could threaten regional stability.&nbsp;Earlier, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) said numerous international militant groups remain active in Afghanistan, raising the risk of security challenges spreading to neighboring states, including Russia and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq meets Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev in Islamabad on Feb. 17, 2026, to discuss regional security, cross-border terrorism and threats from groups based in Afghanistan. (Photo: X/@Ambassa

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan says coordinated diplomatic efforts were also discussed to address shared security concerns stemming from militant activity in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, Russia discuss security threats from Afghanistan-based groups

<figure class="fr-media">ISLAMABAD: India has stepped up its engagement with Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government, delivering 131 cartons of the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine to the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, according to state-run Bakhtar News Agency. Each carton reportedly contains 768 doses. The Td vaccine protects against diphtheria and tetanus, with the current batch produced in August 2025 and valid until July 2028.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/941d2999-ce05-42be-b7ea-cd3981ea5f75-Td vaccine.webp" alt="India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">India donates 131 cartons of the Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine to Afghanistan. (Photo: Bakhtar News Agency)</figcaption></figure>The shipment, received on Friday, follows India&rsquo;s recent donation of around 9.5 tons of anti-cancer medicines. Earlier, New Delhi also announced 20 ambulances for Afghanistan, five of which were handed over in October 2025. The growing outreach comes at a time when&nbsp;Afghanistan&rsquo;s ties with Pakistan are strained, especially over border tensions, and India&rsquo;s engagement is seen as a strategic counterbalance to Pakistan&rsquo;s influence. India also aims to limit Chinese dominance in Afghanistan through infrastructure and diplomatic presence. Pakistan had initially expected the authorities in Kabul to act decisively against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil. However, Islamabad has repeatedly <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-raises-concerns-over-indiaafghanistan-statement-rejects-afghan-ministers-remarks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">expressed concern</a> that no effective measures were taken despite its cautions over rising cross-border terrorism. The 37th report of the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, issued on Feb. 4, endorsed Pakistan&rsquo;s position that Afghan territory continues to be used by terrorist groups to launch attacks. The report noted an <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-warns-ttp-emerging-as-significant-regional-threat-from-afghan-soil" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase in TTP attacks against Pakistan from Afghanistan</a>, leading to heightened regional tensions. It further stated that while the Afghan de facto authorities claimed no terrorist groups were operating inside the country, no UN member state supported this view. The report observed that the TTP was accorded greater operational freedom, resulting in a surge in attacks inside Pakistan. It also highlighted that Al Qaeda continued to benefit from patronage in Afghanistan and provided training and advisory support to militant groups, particularly the TTP. The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier. Last week, at least 33 people were martyred and around 169 others injured in a suicide blast at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra during Friday prayers. Just this week, two police officers were martyred, and six others were injured in separate attacks in two districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has taken firm steps to safeguard its national security, including targeted actions against militant hideouts and stricter border management measures. Officials maintain that durable peace in the region requires concrete action against terrorist elements operating from Afghan soil.

Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi stands with his counterpart S. Jaishankar during his official visit to India on October 10, 2025. (File photo: X/Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Afghanistan

The growing outreach comes at a time when ties between Pakistan and the Afghan interim government have faced challenges since the fall of Kabul in August 2021.


India deepens outreach to Afghanistan amid strains in Islamabad-Kabul ties

ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghan territory, could evolve into an extra-regional threat if it deepens cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned groups, the United Nations Security Council&rsquo;s latest monitoring report has warned.&nbsp;In its 37th report, covering July to December 2025, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said some member states expressed concern that the TTP may expand its targeting ambitions beyond Pakistan, particularly if collaboration with transnational jihadist networks intensifies.&nbsp;The report states that Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities continue to provide a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for terrorist groups. While several violent factions remain active, the Monitoring Team noted that the TTP enjoys greater operational latitude and support compared with others &mdash; a dynamic linked to a marked surge in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">attacks against Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;De facto authorities continued to provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,&rdquo; the report states, endorsing Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing complaints that terrorists are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-uncovers-afghanistanbased-terror-network-as-attacks-mount" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">using Afghan territory as a safe haven</a>.&nbsp;Surge in cross-border violence and operational reachThe United Nations assessment underscores that TTP has grown into one of the largest terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan, developing deep roots across several eastern and southeastern provinces.&nbsp;The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.&nbsp;The Monitoring Team also documented expanded capabilities, citing access to modern weapons, training infrastructure, and logistical backing that have boosted the group&rsquo;s lethality.&nbsp;These include advanced small arms, night-vision equipment and even drone systems &mdash; often facilitated through systems of movement passes and permits allegedly issued by Afghan authorities.&nbsp;Al Qaeda ties and wider threat concernsBeyond its cross-border campaign, the TTP&rsquo;s relationship with Al Qaeda remains a central concern. Member states cited in the report warned that the group&rsquo;s operational cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned networks could broaden its target set and potentially make it an extra-regional threat beyond South Asia.&nbsp;The report further highlights that Al Qaeda continues to act as a &ldquo;service provider&rdquo; for other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, offering training and strategic support, particularly to the TTP, fueling fears of a widening nexus of extremist collaboration.&nbsp;Taliban denials and international frictionThe findings starkly contradict repeated Taliban assurances that no terrorist groups operate within Afghan borders, with the report noting that no UN member state endorsed this claim. The persistent sanctuary for the TTP and other terrorist groups is now recognized as a credible and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttp-are-our-enenmy-we-will-eliminate-them-information-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">documented threat</a>, complicating Kabul&rsquo;s diplomatic positioning and fueling mistrust with neighboring capitals.&nbsp;Implications for regional securityWhile the Monitoring Team stopped short of declaring that TTP has carried out attacks outside the region, the trendlines suggest a dangerous evolution. Member states expressed particular worry that deeper TTP-Al Qaeda links could enable the group to strike beyond Pakistan, potentially drawing in targets across Central and South Asia or further afield.&nbsp;The report&rsquo;s publication comes amid ongoing violence in Pakistan, including high-profile attacks on civil and security targets, reinforcing the urgent need for coordinated regional counter-terrorism action and renewed international engagement on Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorist landscape.

The 37th periodic report from the UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, covering July-December 2025, paints a stark picture of a terrorist landscape that increasingly threatens regional security.

TTP on Afghan soil poses 'extraregional threat,' says UN

ISLAMABAD: Interim&nbsp;Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani declared that the country had fulfilled its Doha commitments, posed no threat internationally, and remained open to dialogue for &ldquo;resolving any existing challenges&rdquo;, Afghan media reported. Haqqani claimed during a police graduation ceremony at the Police Academy that Afghanistan was now a secure country and posed no threat to other nations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 440px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004080608247795944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=5157be1bb5ef009d41645d0ce50a08cf30f5b118&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2004080608247795944">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Any existing challenges&rsquo;<h2 style="line-height: 2;">Haqqani further claimed that the commitments made during the Doha consultations, particularly that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten others, have been implemented.</h2> He added that Afghanistan remains open to dialogue for resolving &ldquo;any existing challenges&rdquo;. Haqqani said: &ldquo;We have worked to fulfill our commitment that Afghanistan will not be a threat to other countries, and we continue to believe that any issues should be resolved through dialogue. The doors of Afghanistan are not closed.&rdquo; Return of refugees &nbsp;The interim interior minister further claimed that the government continues to work on practical measures for the safe return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, as well as addressing broader regional security and development challenges. Meanwhile, the Administrative Deputy Minister of the Interior, Rahmatullah Najib, announced the graduation of nearly 900 new police academy cadets, stating that this will contribute to improved public safety and stability, Afghan media reported. UNSC reportA <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/unsc-report-questions-taliban-claims-of-denying-militant-safe-havens" style="color:#0073e6;">United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report</a> released this month has dismissed the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s claim that militant groups are not using Afghan territory for cross-border violence, calling the assertion &ldquo;not credible&rdquo; and warning that neighboring countries increasingly see Afghanistan as a source of regional insecurity due to ongoing operations by several armed groups based there. The findings are included in the 16th report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted to the United Nations Security Council under resolution 2763.

Sirajuddin Haqqani declares the country has fulfilled its Doha commitments, poses no international threat, remains open to dialogue on challenges, and is working on refugee returns, regional security, and stability.

Doors open for talks to resolve ‘any existing challenges’: Interim Afghan minister 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the interim Afghanistan government to take concrete action against all terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, stressing that lasting stability can only be achieved through region-led solutions.&nbsp;The call was made during the Meeting of Special Representatives for Afghanistan of the Neighbouring Countries, plus Russia, hosted by Iran in Tehran on Sunday, to review the evolving situation in Afghanistan and broader regional security dynamics.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, told the meeting that there was a shared assessment among participating countries that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory continues to pose a serious challenge to regional peace and stability.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2000187327453569118&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=d269215c020ab518952f2e1d79057a46f8a614c0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>He said the Afghan people had suffered immensely and deserved peace and economic recovery, stressing that the current authorities in Kabul needed to eliminate, without discrimination, all types of terrorist groups, Sadiq said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ambassador Sadiq noted that only a terror-free Afghanistan would inspire confidence among neighboring and regional states to engage meaningfully with the country, helping unlock its economic potential and strengthen regional connectivity. At the outset of the session, Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that imported solutions and external decision-making had failed to bring peace to Afghanistan, underscoring that neighbouring countries must play a central role in ensuring sustainable security, development, and regional integration, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). He said Afghanistan&rsquo;s stability was vital not only for its own future but for the entire region, noting that the country&rsquo;s geo-economic position connects Central, West, and South Asia. Araghchi added that decades of foreign military intervention, including the NATO presence, did not deliver lasting peace due to excessive reliance on security-centric approaches and disregard for Afghanistan&rsquo;s social and cultural realities. &ldquo;The lesson is clear: external prescriptions cannot resolve regional crises,&rdquo; he said, calling for coordinated, neighbor-driven cooperation based on shared interests, collective security, and long-term development. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the gathering reflected ongoing consultations among neighboring countries to promote peace, reduce tensions, and enhance regional cohesion, adding that Iran places high importance on stability across its neighborhood.</div>

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq terrorism emanating from Afghan territory continues to pose a serious challenge to regional peace and stability.

Regional forum urges Afghanistan to act against terrorist groups

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Nearly one thousand Afghan clerics and tribal elders have declared that Afghan soil must not be used against any country, urging the Taliban government to strictly enforce the ban on individuals or groups engaging in cross-border terrorism or traveling abroad for militant activities.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Kabul, reaffirmed the directive of the Taliban&rsquo;s supreme leader that Afghanistan will not allow any force to exploit its territory to destabilise neighboring states. The announcement is being widely viewed as a positive signal and a development that aligns closely with Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing position.&nbsp; It reinforces Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic engagements with Kabul and validates Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent demand that Afghan territory should not serve as a base for cross-border terrorism. Analysts note that such declarations echo Pakistan&rsquo;s broader regional peace narrative, which stresses mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference. However, past experience tempers optimism. The Taliban authorities have made similar commitments to Pakistan and other regional and international stakeholders in the past, but their implementation record has remained largely discouraging. The real test this time will lie in the sincerity and verifiable enforcement of these pledges on the ground. If the Taliban regime translates these declarations into concrete, observable measures, it could mark a significant step toward Afghanistan&rsquo;s internal stability, Pakistan&rsquo;s security, and the overall peace of the region.&nbsp; Credible information available to Pakistan TV indicates that Islamabad will closely monitor the situation, as the implementation alone will determine the credibility of the announcement and its contribution to regional stability.

SAT News Desk

Kabul gathering of nearly 1,000 clerics backs previous decree against cross-border militancy; analysts say only implementation will test Taliban’s credibility 


Articles tagged with "cross-border terrorism"