As part of his visit to Bannu in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning to Afghanistan about whether they will continue harboring terrorists or cooperate with Pakistan – this amid rising tensions between their two neighboring nations over cross-border terrorism and security concerns.
Tensions Escalate Over Cross-Border Terrorism
Prime Minister Sharif’s remarks came amid a spate of deadly terrorist attacks in Pakistan that Islamabad has blamed on Afghan militant groups operating from their soil. Islamabad has expressed mounting frustration with what they perceive to be an inability by Afghanistan to restrict these groups despite promises by Taliban-led administration to do so.
“The time for Afghanistan to make a definitive choice has arrived,” stated Prime Minister Sharif during his address to the media in Bannu. “They must either continue harboring terrorists who target Pakistan, or work together with us to identify and eliminate those elements which pose threats to peace and stability in both of our nations.”
Cross-border terrorism has long been an area of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Armed groups, such as the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), have launched attacks from Afghanistan across its porous border into Pakistan, prompting repeated calls by Pakistan for stronger action to be taken against these militants from within Afghanistan’s new Taliban government; yet most Afghan authorities have failed to do so, citing difficulties consolidating power as excuses.
As part of his larger visit to Bannu district – which has seen frequent attacks from terrorist groups over time – Prime Minister Sharif called for a decisive stance from Afghanistan, alongside COAS General Bajwa who supported this demand.
General Bajwa noted during his visit to Pakistan that “terrorism should never be allowed to continue its spread along our Afghan border,” and pledged full commitment to protecting Pakistani sovereignty by taking all necessary steps to secure our borders and safeguard Pakistani sovereignty.
A joint presence of both civilian leadership and military top brass at Bannu was indicative of Pakistan’s commitment to national unity and an inclusive approach towards dealing with cross-border terrorism threats. Pakistan’s military has actively taken part in counterterrorism operations across the region; Sharif’s visit with COAS highlighted this close coordination between government and armed forces when responding to security challenges.
International Implications and Diplomatic Efforts
Prime Minister Sharif addressed the international community to urge it to hold Afghanistan responsible for failing to control terrorist groups operating within its borders, stressing how their rising threat poses serious danger not only to Pakistan but also regionally and globally. According to him, instability in Afghanistan could contribute to further radicalisation across its region.
Sharif’s visit and comments regarding Afghanistan come at a time when Pakistan is coming under increasing pressure from international partners to address its security challenges. The United States and other Western nations have expressed alarm over resurgent terrorist activities in Afghanistan; and Pakistan has been working alongside its allies to tackle these difficulties.
Looking Ahead
With tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan increasing rapidly, their future remains unclear. While Pakistan has pledged to take decisive action against terrorist groups operating along their border, Afghanistan’s leadership faces the task of maintaining control over diverse and often volatile elements within their own borders.
Prime Minister Sharif’s remarks suggest that Pakistan will remain firm in its demand for Afghanistan to take measures against terrorism, and over the coming months we will see whether Afghanistan heeds their calls for action or continues facing pressure from both its neighbor and international community.