Defence Minister Khawaja Asif pointed fingers at Afghanistan, accusing the neighboring country of failing to address the root causes of terrorism and calling for enhanced cooperation to combat the growing threat.
“Despite our efforts, Kabul is not making any progress in rooting out terrorism emanating from its soil,” Mr. Asif expressed on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following a special security meeting convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The minister’s remarks came amidst a recent surge in terrorist attacks across Pakistan, including assaults on strategic targets such as the Gwadar Port Authority complex, a naval base in Turbat, and a suicide attack targeting Chinese workers in Shangla.
Highlighting the cross-border nature of the security challenge, Mr. Asif underscored the necessity for a comprehensive approach to tackle terrorism, emphasizing the need for a “fundamental change” in the border situation. He lamented the existence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan, from where militants freely launch attacks against Pakistan.
The urgency to fortify border controls was further accentuated by a viral video showing an Afghan Taliban member purportedly aiding Pakistani terrorists in planning cross-border attacks on Pakistani troops.
Addressing the complexity of the border security issue, the defence minister emphasized the need for enforcing international laws and norms along the Pak-Afghan border. He advocated for the promotion of traditional neighborly relations between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of passport and visa requirements to regulate cross-border movements.
In line with this objective, Pakistan recently implemented stricter entry requirements, mandating that all Afghan citizens possess valid passports and visas to enter the country. This move signals a departure from the previous practice of issuing special travel permits to individuals from border tribes.
Despite these measures, the specifics of additional steps proposed by the minister to enhance border controls remain unclear, raising questions about the efficacy of future strategies in curbing cross-border terrorism threats.
As Pakistan grapples with escalating security challenges, the call for tighter border controls underscores the pressing need for collaborative efforts to address the root causes of terrorism and safeguard regional stability.
