When the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, Pakistan was the happiest. But now after three and a half years, the Taliban is no less than a headache for Pakistan. Pakistan says that the Taliban has given shelter to its enemies in the country. Taliban's...

When the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, Pakistan was the happiest. But now after three and a half years, the Taliban is no less than a headache for Pakistan. Pakistan says that the Taliban has given shelter to its enemies in the country. Pakistan sent its ambassador to Afghanistan to improve relations with the Taliban. Pakistan's special envoy to Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq Khan arrived in Afghanistan on a three-day visit. On Sunday, he said that peace and progress in Afghanistan is essential for regional stability. His statement came at a time when border disputes, tensions in political relations and clashes are seen daily between the two countries. When Sadiq Khan was in Afghanistan, the Pakistani army claimed to have killed 16 terrorists on the Afghan border.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led interim government of sheltering terrorist groups and carrying out cross-border attacks. Afghanistan has denied these allegations. Tensions escalated when a passenger train was targeted in Balochistan, with the separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claiming responsibility. Pakistani officials said that while BLA fighters were carrying out the attack, their handlers were sitting in Afghanistan and were in direct contact via satellite phone. Hundreds of hostages were involved in the two-day attack.

Afghanistan was considered an important partner

On the occasion of Pakistan's Republic Day, the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said, "Peace and progress in Afghanistan are essential for regional stability." Pakistan and Afghanistan should combine their efforts to promote regional economic development. The Pakistani ambassador described Afghanistan as his country's most important regional partner. Khan said it is important for Pakistan to maintain strong and mutually beneficial relations with Afghanistan.

Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes

Clashes between the two sides took place when Pakistan's ambassador Sadiq Khan was in Afghanistan. The Pakistani army said in a statement on Sunday that it killed 16 militants trying to infiltrate the North Waziristan district on the night of March 22-23. "Pakistan has been constantly urging the Afghan government to strengthen its border," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said. The interim Afghan government is expected to fulfill its responsibilities. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan deteriorated further in November 2023, when Pakistan expelled most of the Afghan citizens from the country.

PC:Samacharnama