Pakistan will not hold talks with any terrorist group, says FO 

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday said that Pakistan has never eschewed dialogue with any government in Kabul but would not hold dialogue with any terrorist groups.

At his weekly press briefing in Islamabad, FO Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that Pakistan has faced a marked increase in terrorist attacks launched from Afghan territory since the Taliban takeover.

He noted that despite suffering both military and civilian casualties over the years, Pakistan consistently chose restraint and avoided escalating the situation.

Andrabi said Pakistan had hoped the Taliban authorities would eventually curb these cross-border assaults and take decisive measures against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Fitna al-Khawarij.

The FO spokesperson added that Islamabad made several attempts to maintain a constructive relationship with the Afghan interim government by extending trade facilitation and humanitarian support.

However, he said, the Taliban’s response amounted only to unfulfilled promises and a lack of concrete action.

Andrabi reiterated that TTP, Fitna-al-Khawarij, BLA and Fitna-al-Hindustan are recognized enemies of Pakistan and its people. Anyone who shelters, assists, or finances these groups cannot be regarded as a friend of the country, he stressed.

Andrabi criticized the Taliban regime for repeatedly mischaracterizing the terrorism challenge by trying to present militants taking refuge in Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian issue.

He said the Taliban leadership has been attempting to depict members of TTP, Fitna al-Khawarij, BLA and Fitna al-Hindustan as refugees, insisting that this is not a humanitarian crisis but an effort to disguise terrorists as displaced individuals.

The FO spokesperson added that Pakistan is prepared to receive any Pakistani citizen living in Afghanistan, along with their families, as long as they are formally handed over at legal border points—rather than sent across the frontier armed with sophisticated weapons.

Andrabi emphasized that Pakistan has never ruled out engagement with any government in Kabul. However, he made it clear that dialogue with terrorist outfits, including the TTP or BLA, is not an option.

The FO spokesperson also acknowledged the sincere mediation efforts being pursued by Qatar and Turkiye.

Responding toa question on trade-related statements coming from Afghanistan, Andrabi said Pakistan has always supported regional commerce and connectivity.

He said this is why Pakistan granted several trade concessions to Afghanistan, but these moves were not met with goodwill from the Taliban side, which continues to provide refuge and support to anti-Pakistan groups operating from Afghan soil.

The FO spokesperson said that transit trade between the two countries can only continue if the Taliban administration takes clear and decisive actions against those involved in attacks on Pakistan.