Islamabad, September 29, 2026: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday urged the Afghan Taliban regime to move away from what he described as a “militant mindset” and adopt the approach of a responsible state.
Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad on Afghanistan’s situation and prospects for peace, Tarar said the situation in Afghanistan was highly complex and required a lasting solution.
“Pakistan believes in peace, dialogue and peaceful coexistence,” the minister said, adding that Islamabad had sent several high-level delegations to Afghanistan to help resolve outstanding issues.
He said talks on Afghanistan had also been held in Türkiye’s Istanbul and Qatar’s Doha.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained tense in recent years amid repeated terrorist attacks in Pakistan, which Islamabad says are linked to militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by militant organisations to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The two countries have also witnessed several border clashes in recent months amid tensions over cross-border militancy, resulting in civilian and security personnel casualties.
Tarar said many of Afghanistan’s problems were linked to what he called a “militant mindset”, while stressing that the country had significant potential to promote trade and regional connectivity.
He said lasting peace in Afghanistan could help establish trade routes between Central Asia and Pakistan, while providing landlocked Central Asian states access to Pakistan’s seaports.
“For peaceful coexistence, we must adopt the principle of live and let others live,” Tarar said, adding that peace was essential for regional prosperity.
The information minister also expressed concern over the presence of terrorist safe havens and members of banned organisations in Afghanistan.
He said some sections of the Afghan population were not being provided sufficient opportunities to contribute to economic development, stressing that the Afghan people should be given basic rights and the ability to determine their own future.
Regarding engagement with Kabul, Tarar said Pakistan supported negotiations aimed at finding an amicable solution to the Afghan issue.
“Peace will increase prospects for stability and development across the region,” he said.
However, Tarar warned that Pakistan’s desire for peace should not be interpreted as weakness.
“Attempts to destabilise Pakistan will be responded to,” he said.
