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Pakistan’s human rights minister does not see Afghan involvement in cross border attacks
Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Riaz Pirzada has said that he does not see the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) involvement in recent terror incidents across Pakistan, adding that there are misunderstandings between the two countries.
The minister’s remarks come as a stark contradiction to recent statements issued by the government and the army who have repeatedly raised concerns over the use of Afghan soil by militants for cross-border terrorism.
Recently, an attack on a military installation in Balochistan’s Zhob Cantt, and another attack on security forces in Balochistan’s Sui resulted in the deaths of 12 soldiers. Pakistani government claimed that the perpetrators of the Zhob attack were Afghan nationals.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also urged the Afghan government to take “concrete measures” towards denying the use of its soil for terrorism.
In an interview with Dawn News, Pakistan’s human rights minister recalled the Afghan authorities’ statement forbidding attacks in Pakistan.
“A few things are taking place beyond [their knowledge] but as far as the Taliban (IEA) … even today, their defence minister’s statement has come that they would not allow any person to commit any act against Pakistan and that this is not jihad.”
When asked about the increase in the number of Afghan nationals in Swat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the minister said they were allowed into the country by the previous PTI government.
“They were the ones who were brought by your own people, who gave permission during the previous tenure to bring them in the [mainstream],” he said.
When asked if he thought there were “misunderstandings” between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Pirzada concurred. He went on to say that in his opinion, the Afghan leadership was being “quite honest with Iran, Saudi Arabia, China and Pakistan”.
The minister further said the blood of Pakistanis and Afghans was “the same”, highlighting the socio-cultural as well as linguistic ties between the two countries.
“So, I do not think that Afghanistan would be this disloyal to Pakistan. I do not accept this,” he said.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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