Pakistan summons Afghan envoy amid rising tensions

Islamabad has summoned the Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, over concerns regarding the growing activity of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistani media reported that the envoy was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, where officials pressed Kabul to cut all ties with TTP and take stronger steps against the group’s activities inside Afghanistan.

The summons comes as TTP-linked attacks along Pakistan’s border and within its territory continue to raise Islamabad’s security concerns, further straining relations between the two neighbors.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, however, highlighted in an interview with Al Jazeera that relations between the two countries have improved in recent months.

He recalled his April 19 visit to Kabul, where discussions covered trade, economy, refugees, and political issues, noting that by June 30, all decisions made during the visit were implemented, with Afghan officials acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts.

Two days ago, former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, called on Pakistan to abandon its current military-centric approach to dealing with the TTP and instead pursue a political settlement to end the ongoing conflict.

In a strongly worded statement posted on social media, Khalilzad warned that the ongoing violence between Pakistan’s security forces and TTP militants has reached a “dangerous point,” with mounting casualties and no clear military solution in sight.

“The time has come to shift to a political strategy and negotiate,” Khalilzad wrote, adding that “Afghanistan must help Pakistan with such negotiations.”

The Islamic Emirate has not officially responded to the summons or Dar’s remarks but Afghan officials have repeatedly rejected claims of TTP’s presence in Afghanistan, arguing that such accusations are an attempt to deflect attention from Pakistan’s own internal security problems.

Some Afghan analysts maintain that Islamabad’s approach to counterterrorism remains inconsistent.