ISLAMABAD: According to Dawn, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan told the weekly briefing that Pakistan is not avoiding dialogue, including with Afghan representatives, but that any talks will not be unconditional.
Pakistan has only one demand, he said: a verifiable mechanism that ensures a complete end to terrorist activity launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil. He accused the Taliban government of taking 'one step forward and one step backward'.
Khan said Pakistan would welcome any sincere effort by friendly countries to address its legitimate security concerns and promote regional peace. Asked about Russian mediation, however, he said he was not aware of any separate, formal Russian initiative currently under discussion.
The report notes that Moscow's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, renewed an offer earlier this month to facilitate a settlement if both sides asked. Russia is the only country that has formally recognised the Taliban government.
The spokesperson said the lack of a joint communique after the Moscow Format consultations on October 5 showed the Afghan delegation would not accept wording on terrorist networks that had been agreed the previous year, which he called a sign of reluctance to admit that terrorism originates from Afghan territory.
Dawn reports that the central obstacle to normal ties remains Pakistan's demand for action against the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other groups, allegations the Taliban authorities reject. Qatar and Turkiye helped broker a ceasefire last October, and Saudi Arabia and China have also hosted talks, but no lasting settlement has emerged.
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