Afghan soil will not be used for hostile acts: Kabul
0
• Assurance comes as Ishaq Dar visits Afghanistan after months of tension
• Meets Afghan PM, stresses importance of building trust
• Afghan premier calls upon Islamabad to ‘end mistreatment of refugees’
ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s acting prime minister, Mullah Hasan Akhund, assured Pakistan on Saturday that Afghan territory will not be used for hostile activities against any country.
“The prime minister assured the [Pakistani] delegation that Afghanistan’s territory will not be used against any nation, including its neighbours,” said a statement from the Afghan Prime Minister’s Office after his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, addressing a major issue that has long strained ties between the two countries.
Mr Akhund emphasised his administration’s consistency between “words and actions” in curbing militancy.
Mr Dar’s visit marked the high point of a renewed re-engagement process between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban administration after months of diplomatic deadlock, border clashes and mounting security concerns.
Islamabad accuses Afghan-based militant groups of launching cross-border attacks and planning and executing terrorist attacks here, facilitated by the Afghan Taliban administration’s indifference to Pakistan’s concerns. In response, Pakistan has conducted military strikes against terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and initiated a mass deportation drive targeting Afghan nationals.
The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) met in Kabul earlier this week under the new dialogue process, which aims to rebuild trust and cooperation.
A day before Mr Dar’s visit, the Foreign Office described terrorism as the “key concern” in the relationship.
Mr Dar echoed the sentiment at a press conference in Kabul. “For this region’s prosperity, development, peace and security, we need to work together. For that purpose, neither we would allow anyone to use our soil for any wrongful act in Afghanistan, nor should you (Afghanistan) allow such a thing to happen,” he said.
“No one should be allowed to use one’s soil against the other for terrorism. Both countries should sternly deal with such actions,” he added.
The Afghan Prime Minister’s Office quoted Mr Dar as highlighting the importance of building trust and affirming that Pakistan’s concerns must be addressed through cooperative mechanisms.
Another contentious issue discussed during Mr Dar’s visit was the status and treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“Pakistan’s unilateral measures are intensifying the problem and hindering progress towards a solution,” the Afghan Prime Minister’s Office said on the issue of the expulsion of Afghans living in Pakistan. The Afghan premier called on Pakistan to “end the mistreatment of Afghan refugees”, the statement said.
The Afghan foreign ministry took a similar stance on the issue. “Foreign Minister Amir Muttaqi expressed deep concern over the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their forced repatriation,” it said in a statement. “Stressing the need for humane treatment, he urged Pakistani authorities to protect the rights of Afghan nationals currently residing in, or returning from, Pakistan.”
Mr Dar’s visit took place amid an intensified deportation campaign that has forced tens of thousands of Afghans to return.
According to the United Nations’ International Organisation for Migration (IOM), nearly 60,000 Afghans were forced to cross back into Afghanistan between April 1 and 13 through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. The expulsions are part of a second phase targeting more than 800,000 Afghans holding the now-invalid Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and others lacking documentation.
Humanitarian agencies have warned of the strain on Afghan border regions absorbing the returnees, many of whom lack resources or shelter. Meanwhile, Pakistan has also ordered over 1.3 million Afghans with UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration cards to vacate Rawalpindi and Islamabad, though they are allowed to live in Pakistan till June 30.
Western countries have, meanwhile, been asked to expedite the relocation of Afghans promised resettlement after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Pakistani government has set an April 30 deadline, after which deportations of those who are not resettled in a third country by then will begin.
Mr Dar addressed the refugee issue in his remarks, announcing measures to redress the concerns of those being sent back.
“Regarding refugees, it was decided that they would be respectfully treated and the Ministry of Interior would notify within 48 hours a mechanism for reporting such complaints, which would be overseen by the interior secretary,” Mr Dar said.
“The returning refugees would be allowed to take back their movable assets, while a committee would be constituted to address complaints pertaining to the sale of their immovable assets,” it said.
In a bid to sustain momentum from the talks, both sides agreed to form joint follow-up committees.
“Both sides agreed to establish joint committees to follow up on the matters discussed and to identify effective mechanisms for resolving bilateral issues,” the Afghan foreign ministry said.
Mr Dar said the outstanding issues would be resolved if these committees continued working.
He also stressed the importance of resolving border management and security issues to realise the regional trade and connectivity potential.
He informed the Afghan leadership that Pakistan would reduce the 10 per cent tax on many exports to Afghanistan and is considering further measures to expand bilateral trade.
Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2025
