ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday voiced concern over militant violence emanating from Afghanistan a day after a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed at least 12 people and was blamed by the Pakistani authorities on the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant network.
Sadiq’s comments came during a meeting with Iran’s Deputy Speaker Ali Nikzad, who is leading a parliamentary delegation to Islamabad. The Iranian official, whose country also shares a border with Afghanistan, discussed expanding parliamentary and economic cooperation with the National Assembly speaker while addressing regional security challenges.
Pakistan has in recent weeks accused Afghan authorities of harboring militants and facilitating their cross-border attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians. The tensions triggered border clashes last month, followed by a collapse of peace talks in Istanbul earlier this month that aimed at easing bilateral tensions.
Iran, which maintains relations with both Kabul and Islamabad, subsequently offered to mediate between the two sides.
“Afghanistan’s soil is being used for terrorism in Pakistan,” Sadiq said during his conversation with the Iranian official, according to a statement from the National Assembly Secretariat. “Pakistan remains committed to the complete elimination of terrorism and to resolving conflicts through peaceful means.”
The speaker emphasized that cooperation between Pakistan and Iran was vital for regional peace, describing the two as “brotherly neighbors bound by shared history, religion and culture.”
He also thanked Tehran for its support to Pakistan during a military standoff with India in May and called for unity among Muslim countries in the face of regional crises.
Sadiq condemned Israeli strikes on Iran, noting that Pakistan’s parliament had unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the attacks, and congratulated Iran for its “firm response.”
Nikzad extended condolences over the suicide bombing in Islamabad and praised Pakistan’s “steadfast support” during his country’s war with Israel.
He also noted there were wide-ranging opportunities to expand cooperation between the two countries in multiple sectors.
