Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said Kabul wants to continue dialogue and cooperation with Pakistan and welcomes mediation efforts, including a possible role for Saudi Arabia.
In an interview with Al Arabiya English, Mujahid called for stronger intelligence-sharing and cooperation mechanisms between the two countries. He also warned that any Pakistani military action inside Afghanistan would be treated as a violation of Afghan sovereignty and said Kabul reserved the right to defend its territory.
Mujahid rejected Pakistan’s allegation that Afghan territory is being used by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or other armed groups to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan.
Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has meanwhile alleged in recent interviews that militant groups based in Afghanistan are being allowed to recruit, train and operate against Pakistan. He said improvement in relations with Kabul depended on action by the Afghan authorities and ruled out negotiations with the TTP.
The allegations and denials from the two sides are contested, and not all underlying claims can be independently verified. The statements nevertheless indicate that, despite the continuing security dispute, both dialogue and third-party mediation remain part of the diplomatic conversation.