No thaw until Kabul acts against terrorists: FO

AI Summary

The Pakistan Foreign Office reiterated that diplomatic progress with Afghanistan depends on the Taliban taking verifiable action against terrorist groups such as TTP and BLA. Despite ongoing Chinese mediation efforts and diplomatic visits, Islamabad maintains that progress hinges on concrete anti-terrorism guarantees from Kabul.

• Acknowledging diplomatic progress, Islamabad stands firm on its demand for concrete and verifiable action against TTP, BLA etc • Outgoing spox Andrabi insists recent US-Iran escalation ‘not a failure of mediation’ • Urges India to implement Indus treaty, says New Delhi can’t treat international law as ‘matter of convenience’ ISLAMABAD: Despite recent diplomatic developments suggesting a renewed push to ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Foreign Office on Wednesday remained firm that meaningful progress in relations would depend on the Taliban taking concrete and verifiable action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory. At his final weekly media briefing before he is succeeded by Sajjad Haider Khan, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad welcomed China’s continuing engagement, but that external facilitation could not substitute for action by Kabul against terrorist infrastructure. “Pakistan appreciates China’s constructive and sustained engagement on the issues of Afghanistan,” he said, adding that Islamabad had “always remained positively engaged for constructive dialogue on the subject of Afghanistan”. Progress, however, would depend on “the Afghan Taliban regime taking concrete and verifiable action against TTP, BLA, and other terrorist organisations operating from their soil into Pakistan.” His remarks came amid renewed diplomatic activity, including Chinese Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong’s visit to Islamabad to revive the Urumqi process aimed at preventing further escalation, and an invitation to Afghan ambassador Sardar Shakeb to speak at the National Defence University. Islamabad, however, sees little proof that the Taliban have moved beyond containing TTP activities. The latest UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report noted that the Taliban had relocated around 2,000 TTP fighters and their families away from areas bordering Pakistan, and that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had warned the group against attacks on Pakistan — but also that Taliban support for the TTP continued as the group escalated attacks and expanded its organisational structure. For Islamabad, relocating terrorists does not amount to dismantling the command, training and logistical networks that remain at the centre of its concerns. Mr Andrabi also downplayed readings of the Afghan envoy’s NDU speech as a sign of improving ties. “Envoys visit academic institutions. This is not unusual,” he said. “Such interaction is no yardstick for measuring bilateral relations between the two sides. As such, we should not read too much into this interaction.” There had consequently been “no change” in Pakistan’s position. “Fact remains that progress in Pak-Afghan relations hinges on verifiable, written assurances from the Afghan side that their territory will not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he said. Iran-US hostilities The FO said the resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran should not be seen as a failure of mediation, insisting Islamabad remained engaged and hopeful the parties would return to talks once the “logic of escalation” had run its course. Attacks by the two sides have escalated after weeks of relative military restraint, alongside a growing US economic pressure campaign against Iran. “Whilst we remain concerned, and obviously these escalations are not desirable, however, we are not discouraged, and we remain engaged,” Andrabi said. “This escalation should not be termed as a failure of the mediatory process.” Pakistan has consistently maintained that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, brokered in June through Pakistani facilitation, remained the framework for reviving diplomacy between Washington and Tehran after its implementation collapsed within weeks. His latest remarks, however, left room for an alternative. “Our efforts will continue,” he said. “We hope that, when the logic of escalation will exhaust, and it should eventually exhaust, the parties would return to the negotiating table.” “Whether the parties agree to resume dialogue, this template of peace (Islamabad MoU), or any similar framework copying this template, will be adopted. We remain positive that the parties will eventually return to the dialogue table,” he added. That marked a subtle broadening of Pakistan’s position, which until now had projected the June MoU as the template for restarting the political process rather than requiring the parties to begin afresh. On the latest US measures against Iran, the spokesperson said Islamabad had taken note of the sanctions and was assessing their possible impact on bilateral trade. “As regards the potential impact of these US measures on Pakistan-Iran trade, the matter is being carefully evaluated and monitored in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce,” he added — a shift in emphasis from last week’s briefing, when he stressed international law and existing bilateral agreements.