Pakistan respects Afghanistan’s sovereignty and remains committed to continuous dialogue and cooperation with its neighbour to tackle the shared threat of terrorism, the Foreign Office has said.

Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, during the weekly media briefing on Friday, underlined that Pakistan has always preferred diplomatic means, even when facing threats from terrorist sanctuaries and cross-border attacks originating from Afghanistan.

Responding to a question about alleged Pakistani air operations inside Afghanistan, the spokesperson clarified that Pakistan’s security forces and law enforcement agencies only conduct targeted actions within border regions to protect its citizens.

“These operations are carried out solely against terrorist groups, particularly those posing a direct threat to Pakistan’s security, such as Fitna Al Khawarij and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” he said.

He added that the actions are undertaken with “utmost caution and precision, based on credible and verifiable intelligence.”

Rejecting the impression that Pakistan was engaged in any aggressive operation inside Afghan territory, the spokesperson said Islamabad’s only objective is to safeguard its people from cross-border terrorism.

“Pakistan remains committed to protecting its sovereignty and security,” he said, adding that all actions are taken within the bounds of international law and diplomatic norms.

Shafqat Ali Khan urged Afghan authorities not to allow their soil to be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

He said groups like the TTP pose a collective threat to regional peace and stability and can only be countered through joint efforts.

The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan strongly believes in dialogue and constructive engagement with Afghanistan to resolve outstanding issues.

“The interests of both countries lie in eliminating terrorism and ensuring peace and stability in the region,” he said.

“We want to see Afghanistan fully restore its sovereignty and security and take effective action against groups like the TTP.”

Commenting on Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, Khan said Afghanistan’s bilateral relations with any third country are its sovereign matter.

“We do not comment on such engagements, but our consistent position is that Afghanistan has the right to conduct an independent foreign policy — however, its soil should not be used against Pakistan,” he stated.

He added that the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil remains a standing agenda item in Pakistan’s ongoing dialogue with Kabul at all levels.

“From the prime minister to senior government officials, all have conveyed the seriousness of this issue to Afghan authorities in clear terms,” he said.

Responding to a question regarding the defence minister’s remarks in parliament that Afghanistan had demanded Rs10 billion for the handover of TTP militants, the spokesperson clarified: “I don’t believe the defence minister meant it in that sense. What he said was that the Afghan side demanded Rs10 billion for relocating the terrorists. We asked if they could guarantee that these terrorists would not attack Pakistan again after relocation — but the Afghan side could not give a clear answer. That is what the minister was referring to,” he explained.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment, Khan said the country is serious about ensuring peace and stability in the region and wants to eliminate the threat of terrorism through cooperation and dialogue with Afghanistan.