‘Ulema’s visit to Kabul not part of Pakistan’s official move’

ISLAMABAD: Ruling out an imminent ceasefire with the entangled Taliban regime in Kabul before Eid, the Foreign Office (FO) has announced that Pakistan reserves the right to defend itself whenever it requires until Afghanistan stops harbouring terror networks on its soil.

“No immediate ceasefire is on the cards before Eid, as we had agreed a ceasefire with Afghanistan last year, but it was Kabul that violated and launched an offensive. No ceasefire until the Afghan Taliban regime halts terrorism in Pakistan,” said the FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi during the weekly media briefing on Friday.

“We need verifiable assurances from Afghanistan that its soil is not being used against Pakistan. We do reserve our sovereign right to respond.”

Responding to the Afghan Defence minister’s remarks to attack Islamabad, he stated that Pakistan is still under attack, our worship place and district courts were targeted from Afghan soil.

“We are still under attack. Islamabad was attacked when our imambargah and district courts were bombed.”

To a question, he said that the Ulema delegation’s visit to Kabul was not part of Pakistan’s official move. Our special envoy, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, was in contact with Afghanistan, the spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan conducted a targeted operation with due diligence with no civilian casualties.

In opening remarks, Andrabi stated, “We have emphatically said non-use of force dialogue and diplomacy. We have an open channel of communication with Iran and other Gulf countries. Pakistan military leadership in contact with Iranian authorities.”

The spokesperson added that repatriation of Pakistanis from Iran has touched the 4000 mark so far through different borders. In the UAE, any return of Pakistani is voluntary, and no such mass repatriation from there is immediately required.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026