Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that Pakistan has told Afghanistan that neither country will allow their soil to conduct illicit activities in each other’s countries.
Ishaq Dar arrived earlier today in Kabul to discuss bilateral relations between the two neighbors which have witnessed a continuous deterioration. FM Ishaq Dar’s visit comes amidst the backdrop of Pakistan officially stating that Afghanistan’s soil is being used by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) against Pakistan.
Both sides agreed to continue dialogue between them for resolving bilateral issues in a better and positive environment.
Ishaq Dar addresses press conference in Afghanistan
DPM Ishaq Dar while addressing a press conference in Kabul, remarked, “We have requested our hosts that we have to work together for the progress, betterment and peace and security of the region. For that, neither will we allow anyone to use our soil to conduct illicit activities in Afghanistan and graciously nor will you allow anyone to use [Afghan soil].”
He added, “We both countries will strictly deal with and no one will be permitted to — there is no permission eitherway — use our land to use against the other for any security [risk] or terrorism. If someone does, then we both will be responsible to take action against such elements in our countries and stop them.”
Afghanistan’s reaction over Afghan deportation
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed deep concerns and “disappointment” to Ishaq Dar over Pakistan’s recent intense campaign to deport illegal Afghans from Pakistan.
It should be noted that Pakistan’s interior ministry issued multiple caution advisories to all Afghans who did not have valid documents to leave the country by the end of March.
Pakistan, since then, has launched a strict campaign to deport more than 800,000 Afghans back to their country. Many have had their residence permits or Afghan Citizen Cards cancelled, including some who were born in Pakistan.
While Pakistan has not officially confirmed this but analysts have suggested that Pakistan’s policy to deport Afghans is to put pressure on Afghan authorities to take Pakistan’s terrorism concerns seriously.
“Muttaqi expressed his deep concern and disappointment over the situation and forced deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” the Afghan foreign ministry’s deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad said on X.
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