Pakistan on Saturday lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over a joint statement issued after the visit of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, calling the declaration “provocative and irresponsible.”

“The joint statement is highly insensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), who continue their just struggle for self-determination,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

The Additional Foreign Secretary (West Asia & Afghanistan) also summoned Afghanistan’s ambassador to deliver Pakistan’s protest, convening that the mention of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India was a “clear violation” of relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the disputed region’s legal status, according to the FO statement.

Pakistan also rejected the “misleading narrative” presented in the statement regarding terrorism, stressing that “terrorism is not Pakistan’s internal problem” but a regional challenge emanating from Afghan soil.

Islamabad reiterated that it has shared credible evidence with Kabul on the presence of “Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan” elements operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan, with support from within Afghanistan.

“Deflecting responsibility for controlling terrorism towards Pakistan cannot absolve the Interim Afghan Government of its obligations to ensure peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the statement read.

The Foreign Office further recalled that Pakistan has hosted over four million Afghan refugees for more than four decades, but now expects undocumented Afghan nationals to return to their homeland.

“Despite these challenges, Pakistan continues to issue medical and educational visas to Afghan citizens on humanitarian grounds and will sustain such cooperation in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood,” the spokesperson said.

Reaffirming its commitment to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, Pakistan underscored that safeguarding its people and territory remains its top priority.

The Foreign Office called on Kabul to “refrain from aligning with India’s narrative” and instead play a constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability.

“Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to play its due role by taking concrete measures to prevent its territory from being used by Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan against Pakistan,” it said.