Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday assailed the Afghan Taliban regime for assisting India-backed terrorists despite Pakistan's efforts to improve bilateral relations with Kabul.
The Afghan soil remains a safe sanctuary for Fitna al-khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists despite Pakistan's repeated efforts to improve ties with Kabul, he said during an interactive session with the Jirga of tribal elders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Peshawar, read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Speaking to the meeting's participants, Field Marshal Munir emphasised that Pakistan has always sought peace with all its neighbours, including Afghanistan.
However, Pakistan would not allow cross-border terrorism to be perpetrated from Afghan soil against it, he added.
The army chief lauded the tribal people's "steadfast and unconditional" support to the security forces during Pakistan's recent standoff with the Taliban forces and their affiliated militant groups, while paying tribute to the sacrifices made by the people of KP in the war against terrorism.
Field Marshal Munir noted that Pakistan had been exercising patience and restraint for years despite cross-border attacks on security forces and civilians.
His visit to Peshawar comes as security forces have intensified their efforts to eradicate terrorist groups from the province, which has borne the brunt of terror attacks perpetrated from the Afghan soil.
Field Marshal Munir assured the tribal leaders that security forces would cleanse Pakistan, particularly KP, of terrorists and their abettors.
Following the meeting, the army chief visited the Headquarters 11 Corps, where he was received by the Peshawar Corps commander.
During his visit, Field Marshal Munir was briefed on the current security environment in KP, the operational preparedness of the forces, ongoing counterterrorism efforts, and the situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The briefing to the army chief on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border comes as a Pakistani delegation is currently in Istanbul for negotiations with the Taliban regime on the issue of cross-border terrorism.
Islamabad had announced that the talks collapsed due to the Taliban delegation's "illogical" arguments, and its delegation was reportedly returning to the country.
However, sources said that Pakistan agreed to resume the negotiations at the request of Turkiye.
The Istanbul talks, which began on October 25, follow the first round of negotiations in Qatar’s Doha on October 19, where the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire after intense border clashes.
The clashes began after the Taliban regime launched an unprovoked attack on multiple border posts of Pakistan on October 12.
In their retaliatory response, security forces eliminated over 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, while at least 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the border clashes.
Pakistan accepted the Afghan Taliban’s request for a temporary ceasefire on October 17, ending the week-long clashes.