Pakistan Says Militant Groups Drive Tensions with Afghanistan

DID Press: Pakistan said militant groups are the main cause of strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, citing a recent United Nations Security Council report that confirms the presence and activity of multiple terrorist organizations in Afghanistan.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi said the UN report validates Pakistan’s long-held position that militant elements operating from Afghan territory pose a serious threat to regional security. He added that the presence of such groups not only endangers regional stability but also undermines Afghanistan’s own prospects for internal stability and development.

According to Andarabi, the Security Council report specifically refers to the activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other foreign militant groups in Afghanistan.

He stressed that militant organizations remain the biggest obstacle to building stable and sustainable relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that Islamabad continues to support sustained diplomatic engagement in the region to address shared security challenges.

Andarabi also said Pakistan has evidence indicating cross-border support for attackers. While Pakistan implemented a ceasefire in good faith, he said, the agreement was not respected by the other side, allowing cross-border attacks to continue and rendering the ceasefire ineffective.

The UN Security Council report rejects Taliban claims that Afghanistan territory is not used for cross-border attacks, describing those assertions as lacking credibility. It also warns that countries in the region increasingly view Afghanistan as a growing source of regional instability.