Pakistan has said it is willing to hold dialogue with Afghanistan, but only if Kabul acknowledges that militant activity is coming from its territory and agrees to a verifiable mechanism to stop it. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in Islamabad. “Pakistan is not averse to negotiations with Afghanistan,” he said.
Khan said Islamabad had been engaged in talks with Kabul since 2021 and believed disputes could be settled through dialogue. He stressed, however, that any engagement must deliver concrete results, especially on cross-border terrorism. Without progress on Pakistan‘s security concerns, he said, talks would serve little purpose.
Conditions set for engagement with Kabul
According to the spokesperson, Afghanistan would have to give assurances that a verifiable mechanism will be set up to control and eliminate terrorist activity emanating from its soil. Pakistan, he said, remained prepared for diplomacy and negotiations on that basis.
The briefing placed the onus on Kabul to act first. The spokesperson did not give details of any timetable or specific steps that Afghanistan would be expected to take.
Makkah pact described as defensive and not targeting others
Pakistan also reiterated that the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is meant to strengthen collective defence, deterrence and regional security. Khan said the pact was not directed against any third country.
Khan said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had completed the ratification process for the agreement. Islamabad, he added, supported the draft that had been submitted to the Turkish parliament for approval. He said the provisions were designed to facilitate joint defence and did not target any particular country.
Under the arrangement, the three countries would consult one another in the event of external aggression and decide on an appropriate response, the spokesperson said. He also said the draft sent to the Turkish parliament contained no secret provisions beyond those in the agreement. The pact was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye in August 2026, according to the briefing.
Counterterrorism cooperation with the EU and remarks on Yemen
Khan said Pakistan and the European Union had agreed to deepen cooperation against terrorism, including through multilateral forums such as the United Nations. The commitment followed the 10th bilateral counterterrorism dialogue held in Islamabad. Both sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and discussed the security situation in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said the EU had condemned recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, expressed solidarity with affected civilians and acknowledged Islamabad’s counterterrorism efforts. Talks also covered how terrorist groups use cyberspace, information and energy resources, as well as ways to counter violent extremism, terrorist financing and radicalisation.
The Pakistani delegation was led by Director General for Counterterrorism Dr Fareha Bugti, while the EU side was headed by European External Action Service Special Envoy for Counterterrorism Anna Strzaska. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in Brussels next year.
Separately, Khan said on Friday that Pakistan had strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. He also voiced serious concern about the ongoing conflict in Yemen and its wider regional implications, and said Pakistan had consistently backed dialogue and diplomacy for lasting peace.
Rejection of Indian allegations and other bilateral visits
Pakistan strongly rejected what it called baseless allegations made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Khan said. He noted that an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolution had categorically rejected India’s move to change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and that the Kashmir dispute remains unresolved internationally.
Khan also condemned the Indian government’s reported plan to vacate the historic Race Course Mosque. He said the move reflected growing religious intolerance and Islamophobia in India, and urged the international community to take notice.
The spokesperson further said Pakistan was prepared to respond to any alleged Indian false-flag operation, which he described as a pattern associated with India. The briefing did not independently establish the allegation, and it was presented as Pakistan’s position.
Khan added that Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s visit had produced agreements and memorandums of understanding, opening opportunities for trade and investment. The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He also said President Asif Ali Zardari would visit Germany from October 22 to 24, with meetings planned with German leaders and business representatives on trade and economic cooperation.
Finally, Khan said Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia had signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at promoting mutual defence cooperation. Pakistan and Latvia, he added, held a round of bilateral political consultations.
