Shehbaz Sharif Warns Afghanistan Against Harboring Terrorists

News Desk 

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday emphasized that Pakistan seeks a permanent resolution to the issue of terrorism originating from Afghanistan to ensure lasting peace between the two countries.

Addressing the federal cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister described the people of Afghanistan as “brothers and sisters” of Pakistanis and highlighted the 2,000-kilometre shared border. He noted that Pakistan has hosted four million Afghans for decades, providing support within its limited resources.

However, he said terrorists operating from Afghan territory were given free rein by the Afghan government, carrying out attacks that targeted Pakistani army personnel, law enforcement officials, and civilians.

“Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister visited Kabul multiple times to discuss the issue with the Afghan government. As neighbours for all times to come, we must resolve our issues through mutual consultation to maintain peace and usher in a new era of progress,” he said.

The Prime Minister also accused India of instigating terrorist attacks from Afghanistan, noting that attacks continued when Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited Delhi.

Responding to ongoing cross-border aggression, Pakistan’s armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, took decisive action, he said. Pakistan agreed to a temporary 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday at Afghanistan’s request. He added that if Afghanistan meets Pakistan’s conditions, a sustainable resolution can be reached, placing the ball in Kabul’s court.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/pakistan-afghan-taliban-agree-on-48-hour-ceasefire/

Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged Qatar’s mediation efforts, recalling his meeting with the Amir of Qatar in Sharm El Sheikh, where Qatar expressed willingness to facilitate dialogue between the two neighbours.

The Prime Minister called on Afghanistan to prevent the use of its territory for terrorism and eliminate extremist groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij. He also paid tribute to the army personnel martyred while fighting terrorism, saying the families of the martyrs expressed pride in their sacrifices and urged the government to continue efforts to eliminate terrorism.

Recalling that terrorism had largely been eradicated from Pakistan in 2018, he criticized the previous government for allowing thousands of terrorists to re-enter the country, which led to a resurgence of violence.

Turning to international issues, the Prime Minister condemned the violence in Gaza, noting that 74,000 women, children, elders, and youths were martyred, with schools and hospitals targeted. He praised efforts by US President Donald Trump and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia, for helping achieve a ceasefire.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/pakistan-army-kills-37-terrorists-in-mohmand/

He criticized those who politicized the Gaza issue without preventing the bloodshed and stressed the need to work towards establishing a Palestinian state and granting rights to Palestinians in accordance with UN resolutions.

Domestically, Shehbaz Sharif lauded the federal ministers for reaching a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He emphasized that this should be Pakistan’s last IMF program and called for financial independence to strengthen the country’s economy.

Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister urged all citizens to work toward Pakistan’s progress, particularly in science and technology, and reminded that the country should fulfill the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, honoring the sacrifices made during independence.