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Pakistan says planned military action against Afghanistan was halted at Qatar’s request
He reiterated that Pakistan is repatriating Afghan refugees “with dignity” and wishes development and stability for the Afghan people.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Saturday that Islamabad called off a planned military operation against Afghanistan last month after a direct request from Qatar, which offered to mediate between the two neighbours.
Speaking at a press conference, Dar said Doha intervened after learning that Pakistan was preparing to take action amid heightened tensions with Kabul.
“The Qatari Foreign Ministry came to know that we were moving towards taking action. They requested mediation, and the operation that was going to be carried out that night was stopped,” Dar said.
He added that Qatar was displeased that its mediation efforts did not lead to any breakthrough.
“It is not appropriate to talk about a friendly country, but they are now upset that they got mediation done and no result could be achieved,” he said.
Dar urges Kabul to review security policies
Dar sharply criticised the leadership in Kabul, saying the Afghan authorities must reassess their approach as they now hold responsibility for governing the country.
He claimed that since the current Afghan government took power, 4,000 Pakistani security personnel have been killed and more than 20,000 wounded in attacks linked to groups operating from Afghan soil.
“How can I say ‘let us close our eyes’? These incidents are not decreasing but increasing,” he said.
While stressing that Pakistan has the capability to respond forcefully, Dar said Islamabad does not want confrontation with a neighbouring Muslim country.
“It is their delusion that we cannot solve this. Allah has given Pakistan the strength, but it is also not right that we go into our brother’s house and kill him.”
Regional visits and international support
Dar also briefed the media on his diplomatic engagements in Russia, Bahrain and other states, saying he consistently emphasised that the stability of Afghanistan is vital for regional peace. He added that the European Union backs Pakistan’s position on concerns over cross-border militancy.
He reiterated that Pakistan is repatriating Afghan refugees “with dignity” and wishes development and stability for the Afghan people.
Strained Pakistan–Afghanistan relations
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have escalated in recent months, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing the Afghan authorities of failing to prevent the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghan territory as a safe haven.
The two sides reached a temporary understanding following last month’s flare-up, but Pakistan’s Foreign Office clarified on Friday that no formal ceasefire exists, as any truce depends on Kabul stopping attacks — something Islamabad says has not happened.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not yet responded to Dar’s latest remarks.
Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, and Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, discussed the state of cooperation between Afghanistan and the United Nations, humanitarian assistance, and the needs of returning Afghan migrants.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides emphasized the importance of joint and coordinated efforts for the sustainable reintegration of returnees.
Afghanistan’s needs in the areas of climate change and water, increased cooperation in these sectors, and the regional situation were also among the topics discussed.
The two sides also exchanged views on ways to identify new opportunities within the framework of the Doha Process.
A delegation from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), led by Director General Sayed Karim Hashemi, attended the Third Turkmenistan Investment Forum in Ashgabat on October 1, 2026.
The forum was held at the invitation of Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Economy and brought together official delegations, economic and commercial institutions, traders, and investors from several countries.
According to the ACCI, participants discussed investment opportunities, economic potential, and ways to expand trade and economic cooperation among participating countries.
The chamber said its delegation used the forum to present Afghanistan’s economic potential, explore investment opportunities, expand export markets, and strengthen trade and economic ties with Turkmenistan and other countries in the region.
On the sidelines of the forum, Hashemi invited the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan to visit Afghanistan at the head of a trade and economic delegation.
The invitation was welcomed, and the two sides agreed that the Turkmenistan chamber chief would visit Afghanistan in November 2026.
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Iran’s Qaani: We must strengthen the belt of defense and dignity from Afghanistan to Yemen
Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, has called for strengthening what he described as a “belt of defense, independence and dignity” from Afghanistan to Yemen.
Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran on Thursday, Qaani said: “We must strengthen the belt of defense, independence and dignity from Afghanistan to Yemen, and from Iran to Gaza and Lebanon, across the Muslim world.”
He also claimed that the so-called “resistance axis” continues on its path despite the killing of a number of its commanders.
The Quds Force commander further claimed that the United States had been expelled from Iraq despite its extensive capabilities and equipment, and had suffered a defeat against Iran.
Qaani added that the U.S. had believed it could force Iran to surrender within four days or, at most, two weeks, but instead faced circumstances that were different from its calculations.
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