Pakistan Army Chief Claims Regional Peace Depends on Afghan Territory

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, claimed during a conference in Rawalpindi that lasting peace and stability in the region depend on preventing the use of Afghan territory for militant activities.

He alleged that Afghanistan bears “direct responsibility” in this regard and stressed that Islamabad would continue its operations to protect Pakistan.

A statement issued by the Pakistan Army said: “The forum affirmed that lasting peace and stability in the region is contingent upon preventing use of Afghan Taliban controlled territory by Indian terrorist proxies for which Afghan Taliban regime is directly responsible. Pakistan has an unequivocal right to defend its people from terrorism.”

Asim Munir made the remarks despite the Islamic Emirate’s earlier announcement that, during two operations carried out last month in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it had targeted what it described as ISIS hideouts and their supporters. The Islamic Emirate also warned that it would respond decisively to any violation of Afghanistan’s territory.

According to Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Defense, the targeted locations had been used to plan sabotage activities against Afghanistan and attacks on civilians.

Political analyst Sayed Hayatullah Alami said: “Pakistan has long been one of the countries responsible for creating crises in Afghanistan. Pakistani leaders have consistently sought to keep Afghanistan weak.”

Meanwhile, a number of Pakistani diplomats and researchers, speaking at a conference on Afghanistan–Pakistan relations, stressed that dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad should be given a chance through realistic and measured expectations. Participants also emphasized that both sides should adopt a long-term approach to their bilateral relations.

Pakistani journalist Tahir Khan said: “Regarding trade, it was emphasized that commerce benefits the people of both countries. I also attended the conference, and participants generally agreed that relations with Afghanistan should return to normal.”

Tensions between the two countries escalated in October last year following Pakistan’s alleged violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and airstrikes on several eastern Afghan provinces. Since then, several rounds of talks have been held in Qatar, Türkiye, and China. However, verbal exchanges and border tensions between the two countries have yet to come to a complete end.