ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday dismissed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s assertion about the country being a safe haven for cross-border militant activities, and urged him to exercise caution while issuing such statements.
President Ghani had said on Wednesday that the “keys to war are in Islamabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi,” suggesting that Pakistan was providing safe havens to the Taliban and other militants to indulge in cross-border activities.
“Such statements have undermined the (Afghan) peace process in the past and one should refrain from issuing these kind of statements,” Dr. Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Office spokesperson, said while addressing a weekly press briefing here on Thursday.
He said that the relationship between Afghan officials and the Taliban was Afghanistan's internal matter and “hopefully all stakeholders will be able to resolve their issues peacefully."
However, when asked about the ongoing negotiations between the United States and the Taliban to reach a political settlement to the Afghan conflict which has entered its 18th year, he said: "It is a very difficult and sensitive matter, but things are progressing in the right direction."
The US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, had briefed the Afghan president in Kabul on Sunday night about the progress made in the six-day peace talks with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar.
Khalilzad had hailed “significant progress” in the talks to end the decades-old conflict through a negotiated settlement. “Meetings here were more productive than they have been in the past ….. will build on the momentum and resume talks shortly,” he tweeted after the meetings.
However, the Taliban have so far denied to initiate direct talks with the Afghan government by terming it as a “puppet” of the West and “illegitimate" -- a major obstacle in the peace process.
This apparently has also frustrated President Ghani who questioned the legitimacy of the Taliban on Wednesday for carrying out suicide attacks and other acts of terrorism in the war-torn country.
“If the Afghan government is illegitimate, so where does the Taliban get their legitimacy from?” he said. “Islamic scholars in Makkah and Indonesia said that suicide attacks and killing of civilians does not have a legitimacy... so where is the source of Taliban’s legitimacy?”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, however, expressed optimism about the future of the peace process by welcoming the appointment of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as the head of the Taliban’s political office in Doha. “This is producing positive results,” Dr. Faisal said.
He added that Pakistan has played its role by bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table and will continue to facilitate the peace process. Dr. Faisal, however, expressed concerns about the increasing presence of Daesh militants in Afghan areas bordering Pakistan.
Islamabad urges Afghan president to exercise caution over statements on peace process
Islamabad urges Afghan president to exercise caution over statements on peace process
- Ghani had said on Wednesday that the 'keys to war' are in Pakistan
- Experts say both the US and the Taliban weighing their options after the recent round of talks
Pakistan law minister urges media caution on foreign policy debate amid Middle East tensions
- Azam Nazeer Tarar says constitutional limits must be respected when discussing diplomatic matters
- He says people can express themselves but sensitive external issues fall outside freedom of expression
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar urged journalists on Tuesday to exercise caution when discussing the country’s foreign policy, saying constitutional limits must be respected as regional tensions rise following the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Tarar said citizens have the right to receive accurate information and express their views, but warned that public debate on sensitive diplomatic matters could cross constitutional boundaries and trigger legal consequences.
His remarks come as tensions in the Gulf have intensified after coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28, followed by retaliatory Iranian attacks targeting American bases and infrastructure in several Arab states.
The crisis has complicated diplomatic balancing for countries such as Pakistan that maintain ties across the region.
“Journalism is such a profession, and particularly given the way information flows today, it is the right of every person living in Pakistan that correct information should reach them, and every individual also has the right to express what is in their heart,” Tarar told the media.
“However, we cannot ignore constitutional limits and restrictions,” he said, adding that criticism often arises when authorities register criminal cases or initiate prosecution after those limits were crossed.
The minister said debate that frames Pakistan’s foreign policy choices in binary terms — such as whether the country stands with Iran or Gulf states — risks undermining delicate diplomatic relations.
He maintained even the Constitution of Pakistan does not permit people to casually comment on such issues, adding that the public should trust the state in managing these matters.
“Your constitution, which is the fundamental document and the social contract with the state, the agreement between the state and its citizens about how life is to be conducted here, also obliges you to exercise great caution in such discussions and commentary, as they do not fall within the bounds of freedom of expression,” he said.
The remarks come amid debate in the country about limits of online free speech, as authorities frequently invoked the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to pursue cases related to digital content.
Critics say the law has been used to curb dissent and intimidate journalists and activists, while the government maintains it is necessary to combat misinformation, cybercrime and threats to national security.
Tarar said legal action should not automatically be viewed as excessive if authorities enforce constitutional limits.
“Every profession also has a basic responsibility to conduct itself within the limits of the law,” he added.
