Pakistan has accused the Taliban* of violating the Doha agreement by offering refuge to terrorist groups within their territory, and urged the movement to stop supporting these groups.
The National Security Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by key ministers, services chiefs, and top intelligence officials, also reiterated its commitment to using all necessary force to defeat terrorist organizations operating within Afghanistan.
"Pakistan’s security is uncompromisable and the full writ of the state will be maintained on every inch of the Pakistan’s territory," a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office read.
The Defense Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Asif, stated that the Afghan government has promised Afghanistan will not be used as a base for attacks against Pakistan.
"The majority of terrorist activities carried out by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are being launched from Afghanistan. While there may be some TTP sleeper cells present within Pakistan, the group has an overwhelming presence in Afghanistan,” Khwaza said.
The National Security Committee (NSC) stated that Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its people from terrorism.
On Monday the Taliban, which refers to its government in Kabul as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, denied the accusations that it is sheltering the TTP, calling the claims "baseless" and "provocative."
A Pakistani-made Shaheen-III missile, that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, is carried on a trailer during a military parade in connection with Pakistan National Day celebrations, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, March 25, 2021.
© AP Photo / Anjum Naveed
Pakistani Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah recently indicated in a TV interview that the country is planning to conduct military strikes against TTP hideouts in Afghanistan if the Taliban does not take action against the terrorist group and does not hand over TTP leaders and fighters living in Afghanistan.
The Taliban stressed that Afghanistan is ready to defend its territorial integrity and independence.
Ahmad Yasir, a Taliban official based in Doha, warned Pakistan against conducting military attacks on Afghanistan, saying it won't be like the Turkish operation against Kurdish militants in Syria, since Afghanistan is the "graveyard of empires."
*The Taliban is under UN sanctions for terrorism.
**Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is a terrorist group banned in Russia