Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghan territory, could evolve into an extra-regional threat if it deepens cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned groups, the United Nations Security Council&rsquo;s latest monitoring report has warned.&nbsp;In its 37th report, covering July to December 2025, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said some member states expressed concern that the TTP may expand its targeting ambitions beyond Pakistan, particularly if collaboration with transnational jihadist networks intensifies.&nbsp;The report states that Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities continue to provide a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for terrorist groups. While several violent factions remain active, the Monitoring Team noted that the TTP enjoys greater operational latitude and support compared with others &mdash; a dynamic linked to a marked surge in <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/four-facilitators-of-islamabad-mosque-attacker-afghan-mastermind-arrested-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">attacks against Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;&ldquo;De facto authorities continued to provide a permissive environment for a range of terrorist groups, notably Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,&rdquo; the report states, endorsing Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing complaints that terrorists are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-uncovers-afghanistanbased-terror-network-as-attacks-mount" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">using Afghan territory as a safe haven</a>.&nbsp;Surge in cross-border violence and operational reachThe United Nations assessment underscores that TTP has grown into one of the largest terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan, developing deep roots across several eastern and southeastern provinces.&nbsp;The group has been linked to many attacks, particularly in the latter half of 2025, contributing to heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.&nbsp;The Monitoring Team also documented expanded capabilities, citing access to modern weapons, training infrastructure, and logistical backing that have boosted the group&rsquo;s lethality.&nbsp;These include advanced small arms, night-vision equipment and even drone systems &mdash; often facilitated through systems of movement passes and permits allegedly issued by Afghan authorities.&nbsp;Al Qaeda ties and wider threat concernsBeyond its cross-border campaign, the TTP&rsquo;s relationship with Al Qaeda remains a central concern. Member states cited in the report warned that the group&rsquo;s operational cooperation with Al Qaeda-aligned networks could broaden its target set and potentially make it an extra-regional threat beyond South Asia.&nbsp;The report further highlights that Al Qaeda continues to act as a &ldquo;service provider&rdquo; for other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, offering training and strategic support, particularly to the TTP, fueling fears of a widening nexus of extremist collaboration.&nbsp;Taliban denials and international frictionThe findings starkly contradict repeated Taliban assurances that no terrorist groups operate within Afghan borders, with the report noting that no UN member state endorsed this claim. The persistent sanctuary for the TTP and other terrorist groups is now recognized as a credible and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttp-are-our-enenmy-we-will-eliminate-them-information-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">documented threat</a>, complicating Kabul&rsquo;s diplomatic positioning and fueling mistrust with neighboring capitals.&nbsp;Implications for regional securityWhile the Monitoring Team stopped short of declaring that TTP has carried out attacks outside the region, the trendlines suggest a dangerous evolution. Member states expressed particular worry that deeper TTP-Al Qaeda links could enable the group to strike beyond Pakistan, potentially drawing in targets across Central and South Asia or further afield.&nbsp;The report&rsquo;s publication comes amid ongoing violence in Pakistan, including high-profile attacks on civil and security targets, reinforcing the urgent need for coordinated regional counter-terrorism action and renewed international engagement on Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorist landscape.

Afghanistan

The 37th periodic report from the UNSC's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, covering July-December 2025, paints a stark picture of a terrorist landscape that increasingly threatens regional security.

TTP on Afghan soil poses 'extraregional threat,' says UN

ISLAMABAD: Interim&nbsp;Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani declared that the country had fulfilled its Doha commitments, posed no threat internationally, and remained open to dialogue for &ldquo;resolving any existing challenges&rdquo;, Afghan media reported. Haqqani claimed during a police graduation ceremony at the Police Academy that Afghanistan was now a secure country and posed no threat to other nations.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 440px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2004080608247795944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=5157be1bb5ef009d41645d0ce50a08cf30f5b118&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2004080608247795944">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&lsquo;Any existing challenges&rsquo;<h2 style="line-height: 2;">Haqqani further claimed that the commitments made during the Doha consultations, particularly that Afghan soil would not be used to threaten others, have been implemented.</h2> He added that Afghanistan remains open to dialogue for resolving &ldquo;any existing challenges&rdquo;. Haqqani said: &ldquo;We have worked to fulfill our commitment that Afghanistan will not be a threat to other countries, and we continue to believe that any issues should be resolved through dialogue. The doors of Afghanistan are not closed.&rdquo; Return of refugees &nbsp;The interim interior minister further claimed that the government continues to work on practical measures for the safe return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, as well as addressing broader regional security and development challenges. Meanwhile, the Administrative Deputy Minister of the Interior, Rahmatullah Najib, announced the graduation of nearly 900 new police academy cadets, stating that this will contribute to improved public safety and stability, Afghan media reported. UNSC reportA <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/unsc-report-questions-taliban-claims-of-denying-militant-safe-havens" style="color:#0073e6;">United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report</a> released this month has dismissed the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s claim that militant groups are not using Afghan territory for cross-border violence, calling the assertion &ldquo;not credible&rdquo; and warning that neighboring countries increasingly see Afghanistan as a source of regional insecurity due to ongoing operations by several armed groups based there. The findings are included in the 16th report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted to the United Nations Security Council under resolution 2763.

Sirajuddin Haqqani declares the country has fulfilled its Doha commitments, poses no international threat, remains open to dialogue on challenges, and is working on refugee returns, regional security, and stability.

Doors open for talks to resolve ‘any existing challenges’: Interim Afghan minister 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged the interim Afghanistan government to take concrete action against all terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, stressing that lasting stability can only be achieved through region-led solutions.&nbsp;The call was made during the Meeting of Special Representatives for Afghanistan of the Neighbouring Countries, plus Russia, hosted by Iran in Tehran on Sunday, to review the evolving situation in Afghanistan and broader regional security dynamics.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, told the meeting that there was a shared assessment among participating countries that terrorism emanating from Afghan territory continues to pose a serious challenge to regional peace and stability.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2000187327453569118&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=d269215c020ab518952f2e1d79057a46f8a614c0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>He said the Afghan people had suffered immensely and deserved peace and economic recovery, stressing that the current authorities in Kabul needed to eliminate, without discrimination, all types of terrorist groups, Sadiq said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ambassador Sadiq noted that only a terror-free Afghanistan would inspire confidence among neighboring and regional states to engage meaningfully with the country, helping unlock its economic potential and strengthen regional connectivity. At the outset of the session, Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that imported solutions and external decision-making had failed to bring peace to Afghanistan, underscoring that neighbouring countries must play a central role in ensuring sustainable security, development, and regional integration, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). He said Afghanistan&rsquo;s stability was vital not only for its own future but for the entire region, noting that the country&rsquo;s geo-economic position connects Central, West, and South Asia. Araghchi added that decades of foreign military intervention, including the NATO presence, did not deliver lasting peace due to excessive reliance on security-centric approaches and disregard for Afghanistan&rsquo;s social and cultural realities. &ldquo;The lesson is clear: external prescriptions cannot resolve regional crises,&rdquo; he said, calling for coordinated, neighbor-driven cooperation based on shared interests, collective security, and long-term development. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the gathering reflected ongoing consultations among neighboring countries to promote peace, reduce tensions, and enhance regional cohesion, adding that Iran places high importance on stability across its neighborhood.</div>

Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq terrorism emanating from Afghan territory continues to pose a serious challenge to regional peace and stability.

Regional forum urges Afghanistan to act against terrorist groups

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Nearly one thousand Afghan clerics and tribal elders have declared that Afghan soil must not be used against any country, urging the Taliban government to strictly enforce the ban on individuals or groups engaging in cross-border terrorism or traveling abroad for militant activities.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Kabul, reaffirmed the directive of the Taliban&rsquo;s supreme leader that Afghanistan will not allow any force to exploit its territory to destabilise neighboring states. The announcement is being widely viewed as a positive signal and a development that aligns closely with Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing position.&nbsp; It reinforces Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic engagements with Kabul and validates Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent demand that Afghan territory should not serve as a base for cross-border terrorism. Analysts note that such declarations echo Pakistan&rsquo;s broader regional peace narrative, which stresses mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference. However, past experience tempers optimism. The Taliban authorities have made similar commitments to Pakistan and other regional and international stakeholders in the past, but their implementation record has remained largely discouraging. The real test this time will lie in the sincerity and verifiable enforcement of these pledges on the ground. If the Taliban regime translates these declarations into concrete, observable measures, it could mark a significant step toward Afghanistan&rsquo;s internal stability, Pakistan&rsquo;s security, and the overall peace of the region.&nbsp; Credible information available to Pakistan TV indicates that Islamabad will closely monitor the situation, as the implementation alone will determine the credibility of the announcement and its contribution to regional stability.

SAT News Desk

Kabul gathering of nearly 1,000 clerics backs previous decree against cross-border militancy; analysts say only implementation will test Taliban’s credibility 


Afghan clerics forbid use of soil for cross-border terrorism 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani law-enforcement agencies have uncovered what officials describe as a structured terrorist network operating from Afghanistan, with recent arrests exposing recruitment pipelines, cross-border training sites, and planned strikes on military and civilian targets, security sources said.&nbsp;One of the key arrests occurred in Talagang, where authorities detained a man identifying himself as Qasim, alias Hassan, a member of the Daloozi tribe from Afghanistan&rsquo;s Gardez province. According to security sources, the suspect admitted he had been recruited in 2025 by a Taliban commander named Armani at Sarha Darga.&nbsp;&ldquo;He told investigators that Commander Armani, along with a companion named Farooq, made him conduct reconnaissance of the army fort in Tajori for a suicide attack,&rdquo; security sources said. The suspect also allegedly confessed to 20 days of training in Afghanistan before being tasked with carrying out a suicide bombing.&nbsp;Security officials said the suspect claimed to have recruited five people for the network, receiving Rs10,000 ($34) per recruit, and later traveled to Punjab in September to enlist additional members before being arrested.&nbsp;The detentions come amid Pakistan&rsquo;s deadliest surge in terrorism in a decade, with violence heavily concentrated in&nbsp;Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)&nbsp;and Balochistan. &ldquo;Attack levels recorded in 2024 mirrored those of 2014,&rdquo; security sources said, citing internal assessments.&nbsp;More than 300 attacks have already struck KP in 2025, according to provincial counterterrorism data shared with investigators.&nbsp;Pakistani authorities maintain that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated outfits continue to use Afghan territory to stage operations. Security officials noted that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had previously stated that suicide bombers who targeted an Islamabad courthouse and a military cadet college in 2025 were Afghan nationals.&nbsp;Security sources added that a December 2024 attack in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) by Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a TTP-linked faction, killed 23 security personnel, prompting Islamabad to demand action from Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim authorities.&nbsp;According to the sources, internal threat assessments show a sharp rise in regional militancy since the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in 2021. Pakistan-based research cited by investigators documented a 51% increase in attacks in the year following August 15, 2021, while the interior ministry logged a 60% nationwide rise in 2023.&nbsp;Terrorism-related fatalities in Pakistan have quadrupled since 2019, internal government data shows, rising from 365 deaths that year to at least 1,438 in 2023. Academic studies reviewed by security officials also indicate that average monthly TTP attacks tripled between 2020 and 2022.&nbsp;A 2025 assessment circulated among Pakistani security planners concluded that the TTP continues to receive &ldquo;substantial logistical and operational support&rdquo; from authorities inside Afghanistan, with analysts noting that the group has adopted a more centralized command structure and operates from cross-border sanctuaries.&nbsp;Security sources said the latest arrests offer the &ldquo;clearest evidence yet&rdquo; of an organized recruitment chain linking operatives inside Pakistan to handlers and trainers based in Afghanistan.

Security

Pakistani security sources say recent arrests expose a structured Afghanistan-based network recruiting, training and deploying militants as nationwide attacks surge, with TTP-linked groups expanding operations from cross-border sanctuaries.

Pakistan traces expanding Afghan-based network behind rising attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will arrest any deported Afghan national who attempts to re-enter the country illegally, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Monday, as authorities expand a sweeping campaign against undocumented migrants.&nbsp;Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi said 1.1 million Afghans have been deported since the crackdown began, including 400,000 sent back through the Torkham crossing by April 2025.&nbsp;Naqvi asserted that &ldquo;all the attacks that have taken place at different places in Pakistan&rdquo; involved Afghan nationals. He said police will begin fresh operations next week to identify and remove Afghans residing in the country without legal status.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whatever data is available, we have to collect it at the SHO level and send the Afghans back,&rdquo; he said, adding that those departing voluntarily &ldquo;should go back with dignity.&rdquo; He warned that Pakistan&rsquo;s improving economic gains &ldquo;cannot withstand more suicide bombings.&rdquo;&nbsp;Visa and travel fraud concernsNaqvi said 50 to 60 passengers are removed daily from airports due to incomplete or fraudulent travel documents, blaming &ldquo;agent mafias&rdquo; for facilitating improper travel. He cited cases including a man holding a driver&rsquo;s visa despite never having driven, and a student whose passport showed an Iranian entry stamp despite never traveling there.&nbsp;He stressed that travelers carrying legitimate visas &ldquo;will face no problems.&rdquo;&nbsp;Crackdown on social media misinformationThe interior minister announced a major campaign targeting online misinformation, saying the Information Ministry and the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency would act &ldquo;on a massive scale.&rdquo; He claimed 90% of recent online news was false.&nbsp;&ldquo;If you have evidence, then speak on the basis of it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There is no exemption for those who spread false news&hellip; Do not spread fake news under the guise of freedom of expression.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that individuals abroad spreading false narratives about Pakistan&rsquo;s military leadership &ldquo;will be held accountable.&rdquo;&nbsp;Delay in defense leadership notificationNaqvi also addressed questions about delays in issuing the notification for the newly created chief of defense forces position, attributing it to constitutional requirements.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not that you press a button and it will become part of the Constitution,&rdquo; he said.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi says Pakistan will arrest deported Afghans who return illegally as authorities intensify migrant removals, tighten visa checks and launch a sweeping crackdown on online misinformation.

Pakistan warns illegal Afghan returnees amid intensified crackdown nationwide

ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the Afghan Taliban regime has become a threat not only to Pakistan but to the security of the entire region. Briefing senior journalists on national security matters on Tuesday, a video of which was released on Friday evening, the DG ISPR said Pakistan has carried out 67,023 intelligence-based operations so far this year. He said 1,873 terrorists were neutralized in 2025, including 136 Afghan nationals. Since November 4 alone, security forces have conducted 4,910 operations, neutralizing 206 terrorists.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HE5bukjvwvw?si=ouKLt-q8gYM8eH0R" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;">&nbsp;</iframe>&nbsp;</div>He said misleading propaganda was being spread about Pakistan&rsquo;s border management efforts. The Pakistan-Afghanistan border runs through difficult and mountainous terrain, he explained, adding that the fence alone cannot work without observation, firepower and surveillance. He said building forts every few kilometers would require massive resources. He stated that unlike Punjab and Sindh, several villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lie directly on the border, making the movement of people difficult to control. Effective border management, he said, is only possible when both countries cooperate. However, he added that Afghan terrorists are being fully facilitated by the Taliban authorities to enter Pakistan. He said a strong political-terror-crime nexus exists in the border regions, including the use of non-custom-paid vehicles in attacks inside Pakistan. He questioned who is responsible for stopping illegal movement and smuggling once it happens inside Pakistan&rsquo;s territory. The DG ISPR said Pakistan has presented clear and irrefutable evidence to Kabul that terrorist leaders from Al-Qaeda, ISIS and other groups are operating from Afghan soil. He said Pakistan wants the Taliban to fulfil their commitments under the Doha Agreement through a verifiable mechanism, even if monitored by a third party. Calling the Taliban&rsquo;s claim that Pakistani militants are &ldquo;guests&rdquo; in Afghanistan illogical, he said if they are Pakistani citizens they should be handed over to Pakistan. He noted that $7.2 billion worth of US military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan after the withdrawal, according to SIGAR. He said the Taliban regime does not represent all Afghans, lacks ethnic representation, and excludes women. Pakistan, he stressed, has no issue with the Afghan people &mdash; the issue is with the Taliban regime&rsquo;s support for non-state actors. The DG ISPR said trade with Afghanistan cannot continue at the cost of Pakistani lives, adding that &ldquo;bloodshed and trade cannot go hand in hand.&rdquo; He reiterated that Pakistan draws no distinction between good and bad terrorists, saying &ldquo;a good terrorist is one who has been neutralized.&rdquo; He also shared figures for the dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees, saying 366,704 returned in 2024 and 971,604 in 2025, including 239,574 in November alone. He concluded by saying that &ldquo;truth always prevails over falsehood, and Pakistan stands with the truth.&rdquo;

Military spokesperson says Afghan terrorists are being fully facilitated by the Taliban authorities to enter Pakistan.

Afghan regime now a threat to regional security, says Pakistan military

ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry has condemned an armed drone attack launched from Afghanistan that killed three Chinese workers in the country&rsquo;s southern Khatlon region, calling on Afghan authorities to take &ldquo;effective measures&rdquo; to secure the shared border.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said the assault occurred late Wednesday, when an unmanned aerial vehicle &ldquo;equipped with grenades and firearms&rdquo; struck the employees&rsquo; camp of LLC Shohin SM near the 1st Border Guard Post Istiqlol of the Yol Border Detachment.&nbsp;&ldquo;As a result of the attack, three employees of the LLC Shohin SM of Chinese citizenship were killed,&rdquo; the statement said. Tajikistan described the incident as an operation conducted &ldquo;from the territory of Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ministry noted that, despite Tajikistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;constant efforts&hellip; to maintain security and create an atmosphere of peace and stability&rdquo; along the frontier, &ldquo;disruptive actions by criminal groups located in the territory of Afghanistan still continue.&rdquo;&nbsp;Expressing &ldquo;deep concerns,&rdquo; the Tajik government said it &ldquo;strongly condemns these acts of terrorist groups&rdquo; and urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities &ldquo;to take effective measures to ensure stability and security on the state border between two neighboring countries.&rdquo;

Central Asia

Tajikistan condemned a deadly drone attack it says was launched from Afghanistan that killed three Chinese workers in the country's south; urges Kabul to curb cross-border militant activity and ensure stronger security along the two countries’ shared frontier.

Tajikistan condemns cross-border drone strike from Afghanistan, killing three Chinese workers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said the November 11 suicide attack near the Islamabad district courts was planned and directed from Afghanistan, adding that security agencies arrested the key suspects within 48 hours.&nbsp;Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the attacker failed to reach his intended high-security target. &ldquo;The suicide bomber could not enter the main area and detonated on the outskirts of the city,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarar said the Intelligence Bureau and the Counter Terrorism Department acted immediately after the blast and arrested four suspects, Sajidullah alias Sheena, Kamran Khan, Muhammad Zali and Shah Munir.&nbsp;According to the minister, Sajidullah alias Sheena is the central handler who brought the bomber and the explosive vest. He previously joined the Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan and received training at camps inside Afghanistan.&nbsp;Tarar said the plot was overseen by TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud through his commander Dadullah, who remains based in Afghanistan. Sajidullah travelled to Afghanistan as recently as August 2025 and stayed in contact with Dadullah through a secure application.&nbsp;After returning to Pakistan, Sajidullah met the suicide bomber, identified as Usman Shinwari, a resident of Nangarhar, and provided him with the explosive vest. &ldquo;Their target was Rawalpindi and Islamabad, but the terrorists failed to reach their objective,&rdquo; the minister said.&nbsp;He added that all arrested suspects played a role in facilitating the attack, and the network&rsquo;s links lead back across the border. A recorded confessional statement of Sajidullah was also shown during the briefing.&nbsp;Tarar praised the swift action of the Intelligence Bureau, CTD, and security forces, calling the arrests a &ldquo;major success&rdquo; that prevented a much larger tragedy. He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has commended the agencies and reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to protecting citizens.&nbsp;&ldquo;The armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, remain fully mobilized,&rdquo; the minister said, adding that the breakthrough will significantly support ongoing counterterrorism efforts.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar says the plot was overseen by TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud through his commander Dadullah, who remains based in Afghanistan.

Islamabad courts attacker was Afghan, plan hatched in Afghanistan, says Pakistan

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.

Foreign Affairs

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

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