Pakistan welcomes Afghan scholars’ resolution but seeks written assurances

Pakistan on Thursday welcomed a resolution by Afghan scholars opposing the use of Afghan soil for cross-border attacks, but said similar commitments made in the past had not been honoured by the interim Taliban administration.

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, speaking at the weekly press briefing, described the scholars’ statement as a “positive development” following reports of a gathering at Kabul University where participants stressed that Afghanistan must not be used to harm other states.

He cautioned, however, that Pakistan requires formal, written guarantees from Kabul to curb attacks by groups operating from Afghan territory. “The resolution does not qualify to be a full written assurance,” he said.

Pakistan says some Taliban facilitating movement of militant groups

Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan remains concerned about a surge in militant attacks it says are being carried out by Afghan nationals, adding that Islamabad continues to value the welfare of the Afghan people and stands ready to offer humanitarian support when needed.

Tensions between the two countries spiked in October after a week-long border clash triggered by what Islamabad described as an unprovoked assault by Taliban forces and affiliated militants on Pakistani border posts.

Pakistan’s response included retaliatory and precision strikes, which officials say killed more than 200 Taliban fighters. Twenty-three Pakistani soldiers were also martyred. A ceasefire has held since, though the two sides have yet to agree on mechanisms to prevent future cross-border attacks.

DG ISPR says Afghan Taliban facilitate cross-border attacks

Separately, Andrabi confirmed there is no formal extradition treaty between Pakistan and the United Kingdom amid efforts to bring back former PM’s aide Shahzad Akbar and retired Major Adil Raja, both wanted in separate cases.

The spokesperson said extradition requests can still be processed on a case-by-case basis. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier this month handed over case files to UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott, asking London to expedite cooperation.

Akbar, a former adviser on accountability to ex-premier Imran Khan, has lived in London since 2022. Raja, a fugitive YouTuber accused of anti-state activities, was convicted under the Pakistan Army Act in 2023 and has also been residing in the UK.