Islamabad: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has declared that Afghan transit trade is currently not taking place and will remain closed until the security situation is thoroughly evaluated. Responding to questions during his weekly briefing in Islamabad, Andrabi emphasized that continuous attacks on trading points from the Afghan side have resulted in the loss of innocent Pakistani lives, asserting that the safety of Pakistanis is prioritized over trade activities.

According to Radio Pakistan, Andrabi highlighted that Afghan territory should not be exploited to incite or support terrorism within Pakistan. He reflected on the initial optimism following the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, which has since been overshadowed by the use of Afghan soil by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups to launch assaults on Pakistan.

The Spokesperson conveyed a strong message from Pakistan to the Afghan interim authorities, urging them to halt these attacks, apprehend the TTP criminals, and control other extremist groups. He stressed that these demands are not unrealistic but rather align with Afghanistan’s commitments under the Doha Agreement.

Addressing concerns about potential Indian threats to forcibly annex Azad Kashmir, Andrabi assured that Pakistan is well-prepared defensively to counter any such aggression. Regarding the Sharm el-Sheikh accord, he emphasized the importance of transforming it into a sustainable peace process aimed at establishing the state of Palestine, with al-Quds al-Sharif as its capital.