Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan on Thursday reminded Afghanistan that terrorism remains a major impediment to improving bilateral ties, amid ongoing concerns over militant sanctuaries across the border.
“We have been making efforts to improve ties but, the major hurdle remains the security situation and the safe havens terrorists continue to enjoy in Afghanistan,” said Foreign Office spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan during the weekly media briefing.
Khan made the comments while responding to a query about the anticipated meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), a forum both nations had agreed to reconvene as part of efforts to strengthen trade and economic collaboration.
He declined to provide a date for the JCC meeting, saying: “We will share information once more concrete things are available.”
Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq visited Kabul in March where both sides agreed to sustain engagement on important issues including security, trade, and refugees.
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One of the key understandings reportedly reached during the trip was to hold the JCC meeting before mid-April.
Afghan Commerce Minister Nooruddin Azizi was also likely to visit Pakistan after Eid.
“The Special Representative’s visit to Afghanistan was highly productive, and some key understandings were reached regarding follow-up actions,” Khan said, highlighting progress in bilateral dialogue.
However, tensions have remained high. Speaking at a recent seminar organized by a think tank, Ambassador Sadiq warned that “all deals with Afghanistan are off if the Taliban administration fails to address Pakistan’s growing concerns about terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, terrorism has emerged as a growing source of tensions between the two nations.
Pakistan has accused the Taliban of allowing militant organizations, “particularly the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)” to operate from Afghanistan, intensifying cross-border attacks and undermining diplomatic efforts.
The spokesperson also rejected India’s recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, declaring it as a discriminatory move that infringes on the religious and economic rights of Indian Muslims and could increase their marginalization.
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The Waqf Amendment Act violates the religious and economic rights of Indian Muslims,” Khan stated.
He added that the Act usurps the property rights of Muslim community, and could potentially dispossess them of a number of mosques, shrines and other holy places.”
The spokesperson stated that the new law would “undoubtedly weaken Muslims’ ability to manage and control properties dedicated to religious and charitable purposes.”
