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Islamabad downplays Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman’s invitation to Kabul
Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Thursday downplayed Kabul’s invitation to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), characterizing the gesture as a personal visit.
“That question may be best addressed to the Afghan authorities because we are not aware of any such initiative,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly media briefing while responding to a question about the invitation for the JUI-F chief.
In response to another question, she said: “We do not comment on visits or invitations for private individuals to foreign countries.”
Earlier this week, Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), said it had formally extended an invitation to Fazl to visit Kabul. He said that Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman is a religious and political figure who can create mindset in both dimensions.
Baloch clarified that Islamabad’s position on the issue of talks with TTP, an option advocated by the IEA, was “very clear”.
“There are no talks taking place, and there are no talks on the agenda between the State of Pakistan and TTP. We are focusing on the demand that Afghan authorities must take action against TTP elements and rein them in so that the terror threat against Pakistan from the Afghan soil is eliminated,” she said.
She reiterated concerns about possession and use of modern sophisticated arms and weapons by TTP and called for international cooperation for neutralising the threat.
The spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan was in talks with US for enhancement of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism capacity.
Explaining Pakistan’s engagement with the US and other neighbours of Afghanistan on counter-terrorism cooperation, Baloch said: “We have no designs to create difficulties for the people of Afghanistan. Our complete focus is to bring peace and stability in Afghanistan and to work with our Afghan brothers and sisters to ensure that terror threat from Afghanistan does not target Pakistan.”
This comes as IEA has rejected claims of Afghanistan soil being used in attacks against Pakistan and has emphasized that Afghanistan is not responsible for the security failure of Pakistan.
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IEA should respond to Pakistan’s security concerns with concrete actions: Andrabi
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi says both Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sadyr Japarov, the President of Kyrgyzstan, who visited Islamabad on Thursday, expressed their mutual commitment to a peaceful, stable Afghanistan with a sustainable future for the Afghan people.
Speaking in a press conference on Friday, Andrabi stated that both sides agreed that the Islamic Emirate must fulfill its obligations toward the international community and take concrete steps against terrorist groups to address Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns.
This comes while the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly emphasized that no terrorist groups operate from Afghan territory and that it will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against any country.
The Islamic Emirate has also stated that Pakistan’s security concerns are an internal issue of that country, and Pakistan itself must take measures to prevent any security incidents.
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Malaysia’s PM calls peaceful solution to Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has voiced deep concern over escalating tensions between the Afghanistan–Pakistan during a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Anwar said he emphasized Malaysia’s concerns regarding regional stability and urged all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.
His remarks follow media reports indicating heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan after a series of attacks in October.
During the call, the two leaders also exchanged views on several aspects of Malaysia–Pakistan bilateral relations.
Anwar also briefed Sharif on the ongoing flood situation in Malaysia and similar challenges facing neighboring countries, including Indonesia and Thailand.
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Afghanistan makes major strides in cutting drug trafficking, says Putin
Putin stated that Afghan authorities have “substantially reduced” opium cultivation and are “seriously confronting” drug-related threats from within their borders.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Afghanistan has taken “active and effective” steps to curb drug trafficking, noting a significant drop in opium production across the country. He made the remarks during an exclusive interview with India Today during his India trip, highlighting what he described as “visible progress” in Afghanistan’s internal security efforts.
Putin stated that Afghan authorities have “substantially reduced” opium cultivation and are “seriously confronting” drug-related threats from within their borders. He added that Afghanistan has also made important advancements in the fight against terrorism.
Responding to a question about why Russia officially recognized the Islamic Emirate, the Russian president said Afghanistan had been engulfed in civil conflict for many years, but the current authorities now hold control over the country. “This is the reality, and it must be acknowledged,” Putin emphasized.
He further noted that maintaining contact with Afghanistan’s leadership is crucial for shaping events inside the country. “If you want influence, you must engage with the people in charge — and that is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
Putin’s remarks come as several regional powers continue to recalibrate their diplomatic strategies toward Afghanistan, focusing on stability, counterterrorism, and economic cooperation.
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