Pakistan raises Afghan-based terrorism concerns at Moscow Format meeting

The eighth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan was held in Moscow, with a Pakistani delegation led by Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq participating in the discussions.

During the meeting, Sadiq highlighted Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism originating from Afghan territory and its impact on the country’s security.

Addressing the participants, Sadiq said more than 4,700 Pakistanis had been killed in terrorist attacks linked to Afghanistan over the past three years. He said no country could accept a situation in which its people continued to face such a security threat.

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Sadiq said thousands of Pakistani civilians and security personnel had been killed in terrorist attacks carried out from Afghan soil in recent years.

He alleged that the planning, financing, support and execution of these attacks had taken place from Afghan territory, claiming that the Taliban government was complicit in these activities.

“No responsible state can remain a silent spectator when its security is repeatedly undermined and its people are deliberately targeted,” Mr Khan said.

Sadiq told the meeting that terrorism remained at the centre of Afghanistan’s security challenges. He also alleged that a nexus existed between the Afghan Taliban government and several militant organisations, including the TTP, BLA, ETIM, ISKP, Al Qaeda and their affiliates.

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According to Sadiq, these groups were operating from Afghan territory. He further said the security situation was being worsened by external actors and spoilers allegedly supporting proxy groups inside Afghanistan to target Pakistan and other countries in the region.

With the Taliban government approaching five years in power, Sadiq said Pakistan was confronting some of the most serious security challenges in its history.

He also defended Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations in response to attacks originating from Afghan soil. Sadiq said the operations were conducted on the basis of intelligence, remained limited in scope and were defensive in nature.

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He maintained that Pakistan was exercising its right to self-defence to protect its citizens and that its actions were directed only at terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan that posed a threat to Pakistan and the wider region.

Sadiq said Pakistan had taken and would continue to take all appropriate steps to safeguard its citizens. He maintained that such measures were being carried out in accordance with international law, based on the principles of necessity and as a last resort.

He further described Pakistan’s actions as legitimate defensive measures against sanctuaries and bases allegedly being used to plan, train for and launch terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

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The eighth Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan concluded without the issuance of a joint statement.

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