Pakistan rules out unconditional talks with Afghanistan

Islamabad, Pakistan - Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan cautioned on Friday that any talks with Afghanistan would not be unconditional, rejecting accusations that Pakistan is hesitant to engage with the neighboring nation. Khan affirmed that Pakistan would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to resolve the dispute and address its legitimate security concerns, particularly the threat of terrorist attacks emanating from Afghan soil.

The Foreign Office spokesperson clarified that there was currently no known formal Russian mediation initiative under discussion, despite Russia's recent reiteration of its willingness to mediate between the two nations. The absence of a joint communique after recent Moscow Format consultations underscored Afghanistan's reluctance to accept language concerning terrorist networks operating from the country.

Pakistan's demand for a verifiable mechanism to ensure the cessation of terrorist activities is a persistent obstacle to normalising relations. Pakistan's stance has been met with threats from India, which has vowed to respond with a stronger retaliation in the event of future attacks, drawing parallels to the military confrontation last year.

Khan dismissed India's provocative remarks, urging New Delhi to embrace a responsible approach to regional peace and stability, learning from the consequences of its previous military aggression.