Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan security forces killed 23 terrorists in two targeted operations near the border with Afghanistan, the army said Thursday, a week after a suicide bombing killed 12 people in Islamabad, reported the AFP. The terrorists belonged to the Pakistani Taliban or its affiliated groups, the military said in a statement, accusing India of backing them. The operations took place in the Kurram district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a flashpoint for cross-border terrorism that has worsened since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Military&rsquo;s statement&nbsp;A statement released by Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday said, &ldquo;On 19 November 2025, twenty three khwarij (terrorists) belonging to Indian Proxy Fitna Al Khawarij were killed in two separate engagements in Kurram District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.&rdquo; On the reported presence of terrorists, a targeted operation was conducted by the security forces, it said.&nbsp; During the conduct of the operation, troops engaged the terrorist location and after an intense fire exchange, 12 terrorists were killed, the statement added. Pakistan uses the term &quot;Fitna Al Khawarij&quot; to refer to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella network of armed terrorist groups. &lsquo;Foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism&rsquo;According to the ISPR statement: &ldquo;Capitalizing on intelligence with respect to presence of another group of terrorists, in same general area, in another intelligence-based operation, own troops successfully neutralized 11 more terrorists.&rdquo; The statement further added, &ldquo;Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored terrorists found in the area as relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision &ldquo;Azm e Istehkam&rdquo; (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.&rdquo; &lsquo;Kabul harboring terrorist groups&rsquo;Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring terrorist groups, particularly the TTP, that stage deadly attacks in Pakistan, AFP reported. A suicide bombing outside a court in Islamabad killed 12 people and wounded dozens last week, which Pakistan said was planned from Afghanistan. A faction of the TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply deteriorated, with cross-border clashes last month prompting the worst fighting in years; the border remains closed. The South Asian neighbors agreed to a fragile ceasefire but failed to finalize its terms after several rounds of talks, each blaming the other for the impasse, according to AFP. PM lauds security forces Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by Pakistan Prime Minister&#39;s Office (Media Wing) on Thursday: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the security forces&rsquo; officers and personnel in Kurram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for successful operations against the terrorists. The prime minister praised the professional capabilities of the security forces&rsquo; officers and personnel for killing the 23 terrorists. &ldquo;We will continue the fight against terrorism until the complete eradication of this menace from the country,&rdquo; said Sharif. &ldquo;The entire nation, including myself, stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Armed Forces in the unwavering resolve to protect our beloved homeland,&rdquo; said the prime minister.

Security

The army's media wing says, ‘Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists found in the area’; ‘Counter Terrorism campaign by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue.’

Pakistan army kills 23 terrorists in border region: spox

ISLAMABAD: Iran will convene a regional meeting on Afghanistan in mid-December to address escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh announced Monday. The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported that the meeting will include Afghanistan&#39;s neighboring countries along with Russia and China, as bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul have reached their lowest point following recent border clashes. &quot;We are working on establishing a contact group on Afghanistan, which will include all of Afghanistan&#39;s neighboring countries, as well as a number of other countries, including Russia and China,&quot; an Iranian diplomat told the Russian News Agency RIA Novosti, according to ISNA. The diplomat outlined the meeting&#39;s scope: &quot;The agenda of the meeting will include very important regional issues, including how to help Afghanistan and maintain stability through regional mechanisms.&quot; Khatibzadeh emphasized that Iran has taken &quot;effective steps&quot; in recent days regarding the Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute. Pakistan has welcomed Iran&#39;s mediation efforts. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated, &quot;Iran is a brotherly, friendly country. Pakistan is always in favor of finding peaceful resolutions of issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and we appreciate the offer of mediation of our brotherly country, Iran.&quot; &quot;We believe that Iran can play an important role. We would not shy away from any mediatory role by Iran. Mediations are always welcome,&quot; Andrabi added, asserting that Pakistan had a &quot;very strong case. &quot;Despite ongoing tensions, mediation efforts by Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye have facilitated bilateral talks in Doha and Istanbul, leading to a ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has offered assistance in resolving remaining differences and de-escalating tensions. Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Araghchi held discussions calling for continued dialogue between the parties. &quot;Both sides called for continued dialogue between Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve differences by political and diplomatic means, in the interests of ensuring regional stability and security,&quot; the Russian Foreign Office stated.

Foreign Affairs

Iran will convene a regional meeting on Afghanistan in mid-December to address escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban government

Iran plans regional Afghanistan meeting amid Pakistan-Taliban tensions

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said on Monday that Pakistan is in regular contact with the Russian government as Moscow had offered to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul&rsquo;s Afghan Taliban regime.&nbsp;The Pakistani envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV from Moscow, where he spoke about the upcoming SCO summit and member states&rsquo; reaction to the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s continued harbouring of terrorist organisations on its soil.<figure class="fr-media" style="line-height: 2;"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d1bf899d-d80c-4ed3-a688-5b3d0f37b6a5-WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2025-11-17 at 20.54.06.jpeg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="text-align: left;">Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, speaks exclusively to Pakistan TV about the SCO Summit and issues related to the Afghan Taliban on November 17, 2025.</figcaption> Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban reached a ceasefire in Doha on Oct. 19, but tensions remain high between the neighbours after two subsequent rounds of talks to devise a mechanism against terrorist organizations using Afghan soil remained inconclusive in Istanbul due to the inconsistent position of the Taliban delegation. Pakistan remains consistent on its basic demand that the Afghan Taliban regime take clear and verifiable actions against militant groups operating from Afghan soil.&nbsp; &ldquo;Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime,&rdquo; Ambassador Tirmizi told Pakistan TV. &ldquo;Russia has been kind enough to offer its assistance, and we are already in regular contact with the Russian government [regarding this] as well,&rdquo; he added. Last month, the ambassador said Pakistan attended a talk on Afghanistan in Moscow where Russians were trying to tell the Afghan Taliban that they should be a factor of stability and connectivity in the region rather than a factor of instability.&nbsp; &ldquo;That is the whole endeavor on the part of Pakistan as well as Russia to convince the Taliban regime whether they want to be part of the Eurasian dream under SCO,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;Then they have to ensure that their soil is not used against any territory, any country or against any religion, be it Pakistan, Central Asia or Russia.&rdquo; Tirmizi said the SCO-member states consider it fundamental to persuade the Afghan Taliban regime to review its policies if wanted to be accepted as a credible partner in the international arena. &ldquo;Their soil should not be used to destabilise other countries of the world,&rdquo; he added. The Pakistani envoy said Russia understands that without peace in Afghanistan there cannot be any meaningful exchanges in all SCO states.&nbsp; &ldquo;Because Afghanistan is the linchpin which connects South Asia to Central Asia and Eurasian landmass,&rdquo; he added.</figure>

SAT News Desk

Pakistan’s envoy in Moscow says Russia offered to mediate between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban as tensions persist. SCO states urge Taliban to curb militant groups and ensure Afghan soil isn’t used for regional instability

Pakistan in regular contact with Russia as Moscow offered to mediate with Afghan Taliban: envoy

ISLAMABAD: Russia has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through political and diplomatic means, offering to assist both sides as negotiations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban leadership remain stalled.&nbsp;In a November 14 briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow stands ready to help ease tensions if approached by the parties. &ldquo;We call on Kabul and Islamabad to resolve any disagreements exclusively through political and diplomatic means and by peaceful methods,&rdquo; she said, as quoted by Russian News Agency TASS.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Russian Federation is always ready to contribute to promoting peace if it is requested by the conflicting parties. We have such experience, and we are ready for it.&rdquo;&nbsp;Zakharova noted that continued friction between Pakistan and Afghanistan &ldquo;remains a matter of concern not only for Russia but&hellip; for the entire international community,&rdquo; adding that &ldquo;Russia stands in solidarity with its partners.&rdquo;&nbsp;Her remarks follow the conclusion of Pakistan&rsquo;s recent round of talks with the Afghan Taliban in Istanbul, where discussions ended without a breakthrough. Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation departed the city after the Afghan side declined to commit to measures Islamabad considers essential for curbing cross-border militant activity.&nbsp;Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan appreciates the mediation roles of T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar but stressed that Kabul must fulfill its counterterrorism obligations.&nbsp;&ldquo;Onus lies on Afghanistan to fulfill its long-standing international, regional and bilateral pledges regarding control of terrorism, in which so far they have failed,&rdquo; he said in a statement.&nbsp;He reiterated that Pakistan&rsquo;s concerns relate specifically to armed groups operating from Afghan soil and conducting attacks on Pakistani forces and civilians.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan does not harbor any ill-will against the Afghan people&hellip; However, [Pakistan] shall never support the Afghan Taliban regime&rsquo;s measures that are detrimental to the interest of the Afghan people as well as neighboring countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;Tarar said Islamabad has engaged in multiple negotiation rounds, including earlier talks in Doha, in an effort to establish a verifiable and enforceable security mechanism along the border.&nbsp;However, he said the Afghan delegation did not agree to steps that would ensure actionable restraint on militant networks.&nbsp;With the talks stalled, the minister emphasized that Pakistan will maintain its diplomatic efforts while prioritizing national security. &ldquo;Pakistan shall continue to exercise all options necessary to safeguard the security of its people and its sovereignty,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Russia also referenced the broader dialogue process earlier this week.&nbsp;In a November 12 phone call initiated by Tehran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi &ldquo;praised Kabul and Islamabad for reaching an agreement&hellip; to enact a ceasefire and put an end to firing incidents along the border,&rdquo; while calling for continued dialogue to uphold regional stability and security.

Asia

Europe

Moscow says it stands ready to help ease tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, urging the resolution of disputes through diplomacy after recent Istanbul talks ended without progress on counterterrorism assurances.

Russia urges calm, offers support as Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions persist

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday urged Afghanistan to prevent the use of its territory for attacks inside Pakistan, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Cadet College Wana following this week&rsquo;s Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) assault on the institution. During his visit, Naqvi reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s repeated demand that Kabul act decisively against militants operating from Afghan soil. &ldquo;Pakistan has repeatedly asked Afghanistan to ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism inside Pakistan,&rdquo; he said, according to a statement issued by Radio Pakistan. Security forces earlier reported that TTP-linked terrorists had rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the main gate of the college before entering the premises. The attackers were swiftly cornered inside the administrative block as a clearance operation unfolded. According to security sources, all assailants were eliminated. &ldquo;Four Khawarij and one suicide attacker were taken down in a coordinated push, and not a single student or teacher was harmed. The building is now being swept due to the threat of landmines,&rdquo; the sources said. Addressing tribal elders at the college, the interior minister said militants from across the border were involved in multiple recent attacks, including the suicide bombing in Islamabad. He added that Army Chief General Asim Munir had conveyed firm messages to Afghan authorities, stressing that &ldquo;there will be no compromise on terrorism,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan reported. Tribal notables condemned terrorism and expressed full solidarity with Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces, paying tribute to their sacrifices in restoring peace. They affirmed that the local community stands with the armed forces in the fight against militancy. Naqvi also met students and faculty, praising their resilience and composure. Officials briefed the minister on how the attack was repelled and how all students and teachers were evacuated without casualties, APP reported. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately condemned the assault, calling it &ldquo;another attempt by khawarij militants to target an educational institution.&rdquo;

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, visiting Wana Cadet College after the TTP attack, urged Afghanistan to stop cross-border terrorism. Security forces neutralized all militants, protected students, and reaffirmed zero tolerance for terrorism

Halt cross-border militancy, Pakistan tells Afghanistan after Wana attack

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has arrested four members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cell behind the Nov. 11 suicide bombing outside Islamabad&rsquo;s G-11 District Judicial Complex, including the group&rsquo;s commander, according to an official government statement released Friday. The suspects were detained in a joint Intelligence Bureau and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) operation that dismantled what authorities described as a Fitna al-Khawarij network, Pakistan&rsquo;s term for the TTP, invoking a historical radical sect known for rebellion and violent extremism. According to the statement, Sajidullah, alias Sheena, identified as the handler of the bomber, &ldquo;confessed&rdquo; during interrogation that TTP/FAK Commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, alias Daadullah, had tasked him with carrying out an attack in Islamabad &ldquo;to cause maximum casualties of law enforcement agencies.&rdquo; The government said, &ldquo;TTP/FAK Commander Saeed-ur-Rehman, alias Daadullah, a resident of Charmang, Bajaur, and currently in Afghanistan, contacted Sajidullah, alias Sheena, through the Telegram application to carry out a suicide attack in Islamabad.&rdquo; It added, &ldquo;Daadullah sent pictures of the suicide bomber Usman, alias Qari, to Sajidullah for receiving him upon his arrival.&rdquo; The statement continued: &ldquo;Suicide bomber Usman, alias Qari, belonged to the Shinwari tribe and was a resident of Achin, Nangarhar, Afghanistan.&rdquo; It said, &ldquo;When he reached Pakistan from Afghanistan, Sajidullah, alias Sheena, arranged his stay in a residence near Islamabad.&rdquo; Following Daadullah&rsquo;s instructions, &ldquo;Sajidullah, alias Sheena, collected a suicide jacket from Akhun Baba graveyard in Peshawar and brought it to Islamabad.&rdquo; On the day of the attack, the statement added, &ldquo;Sajidullah Sheena set the suicide jacket on SB Usman, alias Qari.&rdquo; The network was &ldquo;handled and guided at every step&rdquo; by the Afghanistan-based TTP leadership, the statement said, confirming that &ldquo;the entire cell involved in the incident, including its commander and three other members, has been arrested.&rdquo; Authorities said investigations are continuing and that &ldquo;more revelations and arrests are expected.&rdquo; At least 12 people were martyred and dozens injured when the attacker detonated explosives outside the District Judicial Complex after being prevented from entering the premises. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi earlier said the bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle at approximately 12:39 p.m.

In a joint operation conducted by Pakistan’s intelligence and CTD, authorities arrest four TTP-linked militants accused of orchestrating the Islamabad judicial complex bombing.

Pakistan arrests four Afghanistan-based TTP terrorists over Islamabad bombing

Muhammad Usman Amin

Nearly a month of political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries.&nbsp; As of Nov. 10, major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, remain closed to commercial traffic. The recent collapse of talks in Istanbul has dashed hopes for a quick resolution, potentially shifting regional trade. The crisis, which began in early October following deadly border clashes, has escalated into an economic standoff. The recent third round of negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, also ended without any agreement. Islamabad maintains that Kabul must first address its concerns regarding militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and rein in terrorist elements operating against Pakistan on Afghan soil. With diplomacy on pause, the economic fallout is on full display. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Investment has confirmed that combined losses have exceeded $100 million. For reference, annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $2.3 billion.&nbsp; Junaid Altaf, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Containers are still stranded at the Torkham border. Many perishable items had to be returned, resulting in significant financial losses. Nearby warehouses are filled to capacity; there is no space left.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Containers are also stuck on the Afghan side, unable to enter Pakistan. These containers are loaded with stone, coal, and fresh fruit. Traders estimate that these blockades are impacting more than just trade; they are affecting employment, supply chains, and people-to-people relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he added. For Pakistan, the closure has affected certain imports, leading to temporary domestic price increases. Prices for essentials like tomatoes had soared to many times the usual rate, but the recent harvest in Pakistan&#39;s Sindh has brought prices back down.&nbsp; Coal, another major import from Afghanistan, is in short supply. Pakistan has substantial coal reserves in the Thar region, but the quality does not meet the required standards, and it needs to import higher-quality coal from South Africa and other countries. &nbsp; In Afghanistan, on the other hand, the impact is quite severe. The crucial dried fruit market, a mainstay of its export economy, has come to a near standstill, with traders in provinces like Zabul and Kandahar reporting devastating price drops as their goods cannot reach Pakistani markets. The suspension of Afghan imports of grapes, apples, and pomegranates has raised prices in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, however, orchard owners are lamenting that prices need to be slashed by almost 50% compared to last year, as the fruit is piling up with no buyers in sight.&nbsp; Pakistan is also the largest exporter of cement to Afghanistan. The construction industry is one of the country&#39;s biggest employers, especially in a nation ravaged by decades of war. However, the border closure has brought construction to a halt and impacted the lives of millions of laborers. Afghanistan can turn to Iran for cement, as it is already the second-largest importer, but this transition will require time, resources, and infrastructure.&nbsp; According to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority, 95% of the pharmaceuticals in Afghanistan are imported, with the majority being from Pakistan and India (imported via Pakistan). The border closure has put a significant strain on Afghanistan&#39;s fledgling healthcare sector.&nbsp; Khanjan Alokozay, Chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber&mdash;Kabul Chapter, commenting on the ties between the two countries, said, &ldquo;Unless trade and social matters are separated from intelligence and security issues and addressed seriously, resolving this problem is impossible.&rdquo; Faced with a blocked eastern border, Afghanistan is actively seeking alternatives, but the necessary infrastructure isn&#39;t available, and the costs are significantly higher. The lack of easy access to a port makes Kabul&#39;s task even more difficult. Pakistan remains firm, linking trade to its security needs. The approach is part of a nationwide effort to repatriate undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans. The belief is that the long-term security gains outweigh the short-term economic difficulties. For a landlocked and unrecognized government, the Taliban must now treat border diplomacy as an absolute necessity, not a political afterthought. Although Pakistan benefits from trade with its western neighbor, its overall reliance on it is limited. However, for Kabul, it could serve as a critical choke point with long-term economic consequences.

Political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries

Pakistan, Afghanistan border closure costs surpass $100M as talks remain stalled

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s top intelligence official, Lieutenant General Asim Malik, has arrived in Istanbul to resume negotiations with the Afghan Taliban leadership, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital on Wednesday.&nbsp;Malik, the Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is expected to meet Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim intelligence chief Abdul Haq Wasiq as both sides enter the next phase of talks on the ongoing ceasefire and cross-border security arrangements.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif earlier confirmed the delegation&rsquo;s travel plans and reiterated that Islamabad expects decisive action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).&nbsp;The ceasefire was initially agreed in Doha on October 18&ndash;19 and reaffirmed during last week&rsquo;s discussions in Istanbul. A principal-level meeting is scheduled for November 6 to finalize implementation details, including the establishment of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism.&nbsp;Afghan spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has said that both sides will continue talks to address remaining issues, stressing Kabul&rsquo;s desire for stable, respectful, and non-interfering bilateral relations.&nbsp;Officials describe the progress as a significant move toward regional stability, while underscoring that the ceasefire remains conditional on Afghan territory not being used for attacks in Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;This outcome reflects patience, diplomacy, and firm commitment to national interest,&rdquo; one official said.

Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations meet again today in Istanbul to finalize ceasefire implementation and anti-terror measures.

Pakistan intelligence chief in Türkiye for crucial Afghan talks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Islamabad had presented &lsquo;concrete evidence&rsquo; of attacks from Afghan soil to Kabul in recent talks. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; He was responding to concerns expressed by opposition lawmakers in the Senate of Pakistan. FM Dar said that recent dialogues with the interim Afghan government, held in T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, focused on engaging Afghan authorities to curb cross-border terrorism. He said that groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and the Balochistan Liberation Army were operating from Afghan soil and conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan. Combating terrorism&nbsp;The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to combating terrorism, urging the interim Afghan government to ensure its territory is not used for hostile activities against Pakistan. Speaking in the Senate, he said that incidents of terrorism have increased even more than in 2012. Agreements made with Afghan Taliban previously, too&ldquo;[Yesterday] Mr Muttaqi called us six times. I told him we want only one thing from you: that your soil should not be used against Pakistan,&rdquo; said the foreign minister. &ldquo;[I told him that] the government has taken a decision, and we will fight [terrorism] to the last breath.&rdquo; Dar said that till 2018, because of Pakistan&#39;s security forces&#39; operations, terrorist attacks in the country had gone down considerably. He said that after the Afghan Taliban came to power, for four years, there were no formal engagements between the two countries. &ldquo;I went to Afghanistan, talked with them, and made agreements.&rdquo; The foreign minister said he asked only one thing of them: that Afghanistan&rsquo;s territory not be used against Pakistan. Dar said that an effort was made to start a train service from Afghanistan to other countries. Unfortunately, with the current government in Afghanistan, violent incidents have increased daily, affecting plans for such a project. Releasing terrorists from prison a mistakeThe foreign minister said that 40,000 TTP members came to Pakistan from Afghanistan, and that the government at that time released more than 100 hardcore terrorists from prisons. Such mistakes, he said, should never have been made. He said that a few years ago, there were 38,000 religious seminaries, and now there are 150,000. He expressed hope that talks between the two sides in Istanbul on Nov. 6 will advance. Trump&rsquo;s active role during Pak-India conflictDar said that US President Donald Trump played an active role during the Pak-India conflict from May 6 to 10, and that the UAE, the UK, and Qatar maintained extensive contact during that period. India had launched 80 drones against Pakistan; the army neutralized 79 of them, while one caused minor damage to military installations, he said. The foreign minister said that India&rsquo;s attempt to construct a false narrative was exposed. The operation against India began at 4 a.m. and ended at 8 a.m. At 8:17 a.m., he said, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called to say that India was ready for a ceasefire. Dar said that the letter recommending President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize was written on June 11. &quot;The role played by the United States was acknowledged through that letter, which was sent under my signature,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The letter will be considered next year, as nominations for the Nobel Prize are accepted till January, he added.

Speaking in the Senate, he said that terrorist groups were operating from Afghan soil and conducting terrorist activities against Pakistan. 

Kabul was presented 'concrete evidence' of Afghan-based attacks: Pakistan foreign minister

KABUL:&nbsp;The United Nations on Tuesday suspended operations at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran because of new interim Afghan government restrictions on Afghan women workers, a UN official said. Indrika Ratwatte, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Afghanistan, did not detail the restrictions but warned they were creating &quot;immediate operational challenges&quot; and posed &quot;additional risks for returning people, particularly women and girls.&quot; Main crossing point&nbsp;Islam Qala is the main crossing point for Afghans expelled from Iran, more than 60% of whom are women and children, according to the UN official. &quot;The UN and humanitarian partners have today suspended operations at the Islam Qala border between Afghanistan and Iran, following the introduction of additional restrictions preventing female national UN and partner staff from operating at the border,&quot; said Ratwatte. &quot;Without female staff, we cannot collectively serve returning women and children under conditions of dignity and respect,&quot; Ratwatte added. Several UN sources contacted by AFP said the decision followed a Monday meeting with interim Afghan government officials. The Taliban authorities did not immediately respond to AFP&#39;s request for comment. An Afghan worker for a UN agency in Herat, near the border, said on Tuesday that &quot;no services are being provided for migrants in either Islam Qala or in Ansar camp&quot; in the city. An NGO worker told AFP that their humanitarian organization suspended its operations in Islam Qala. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, had already suspended assistance to returning Afghans, citing &quot;instructions from the de facto authorities preventing Afghan female staff from working.&quot; Ban on employing Afghan women&nbsp;In 2022, the Taliban banned NGOs from employing Afghan women, extending the measure to UN agencies in 2023. While women are still allowed to work in certain sectors or remotely, all Afghan UN employees have been required to work from home for the past two months.&nbsp; NGOs, however, can still deploy Afghan women as field staff. According to the UN, more than 1.2 million Afghans have crossed through Islam Qala from Iran so far this year. They are among the 2.2 million Afghans who have returned this year, including 1.7 million from Iran. &lsquo;Test of our collective humanity&rsquo;&nbsp;Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, in July described the situation at Islam Qala as a &quot;test of our collective humanity.&quot; The UNAMA chief warned that many returnees, especially women, face trauma, poverty, and restricted access to basic services under Taliban rule. She urged the international community to act swiftly, saying Afghanistan &quot;cannot absorb this shock alone&quot; and that the cost of inaction would be measured in lives lost and renewed instability.

Afghanistan

In 2022, the Taliban banned NGOs from employing Afghan women, extending the measure to UN agencies in 2023; according to the UN, more than 1.2 million Afghans have crossed through Islam Qala from Iran so far this year.

Articles tagged with "Afghanistan"