ISLAMABAD: During Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s recent trips to Russia and China, the two countries appreciated Islamabad’s efforts in working toward a peaceful settlement of the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
“Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role for promoting peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Office spokesperson, said during his weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
Qureshi had visited Afghanistan, China, Iran, and Russia this week to “discuss recent developments concerning the Afghan peace process” and to strengthen bilateral relations with these countries.
Dr. Faisal added that Qureshi’s “very successful shuttle visit” to the four countries would help “generate a consensus among all the stakeholders to advance the peace process in Afghanistan”, adding that “India has no role to play in Afghanistan”.
He said that a consensus is developed at the international level to settle the 17-year-long Afghan conflict through negotiations with the Taliban. “Pakistan’s longstanding position to give peace a chance in Afghanistan is recognized everywhere,” he said.
He added that the recent developments for peace in Afghanistan, including the talks in Abu Dhabi which were attended by representatives of the US, Taliban, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have provided a “significant opportunity to also strengthen our bilateral relations with all these countries” and encouraged all to listen to various views on Afghan reconciliation.
Dr. Faisal said the visit had also helped “formulate a joint regional strategy for peace in Afghanistan and explore realistic possibilities of regional integration in terms of trade and economy”.
Pakistan arranged for crucial peace talks between the US and Afghanistan from December 17-19 in Abu Dhabi to find a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict.
Recounting other achievements on the foreign policy front, the spokesperson said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had made successful visits to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China, in recent months, to strengthen the bilateral relationship, and enhance trade and economic cooperation.
He said that Pakistan had also opened the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor in November this year to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit a revered shrine there.
“We tried to resume talks with India …. Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for resumption of the dialogue but, unfortunately, India stalled all our efforts,” he said.
Russia, China acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts in Afghan peace process – Foreign Office
Russia, China acknowledge Pakistan’s efforts in Afghan peace process – Foreign Office
- India has no role to play in initiative to end the war, spokesperson says
- Follows PM Khan’s successful visits to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to strengthen bilateral ties
Islamabad says over 580 Afghan Taliban militants killed as Pakistan, Afghanistan fighting continues
- Clashes between the two countries began on Feb. 26 when Afghan forces launched an attack on Pakistani military installations
- Islamabad has since been pounding parts of Afghanistan where it says militant targets are present, Kabul denies the allegation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed 583 Afghan Taliban fighters, wounded more than 795 and struck 64 locations inside Afghanistan in air attacks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday, as fighting between the two neighbors entered the second week.
Clashes between the two countries began on Feb. 26 when Afghan forces launched a surprise attack on Pakistani military installations along their shared border.
Afghanistan said the assault was in retaliation for Pakistan’s earlier airstrikes in February on what Islamabad described as militant camps inside Afghanistan.
“Summary of Afghan Taliban losses: 583 Killed, 795+ Injured, 242 Check posts destroyed, 38 Posts captured & destroyed, 213 tanks, armored vehicles, artillery guns destroyed,” Tarar said on X.
The statement came hours after Pakistan’s security forces successfully foiled an infiltration attempt by militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border in the
Chaman sector, according to a security official. The group, estimated to comprise three to four militant formations, attempted to breach the border fence under the cover of darkness.
“Troops detected the movement in time and engaged the militants as they attempted to cut through the border fence,” said the security official, seeking anonymity. “During the exchange of fire, one foreign terrorist was killed while the remaining militants fled the area.”
Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering militant groups such as the TTP on its soil and facilitating attacks against Pakistan. Afghanistan denies the allegations and has urged Islamabad to address its security challenges without blaming Kabul.
Afghanistan has called for dialogue to resolve the conflict. Pakistan, however, has rejected talks with Kabul, saying its operation “Ghazab Lil Haq” — meaning Wrath for Truth — will continue until its objectives are achieved.
Since the conflict began, diplomatic efforts have intensified, with several countries and international bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations, urging restraint and calling for talks.
