Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has vowed to prevent militants from using Afghan territory against other countries, including neighboring states, local media reported on Friday.
"This commitment is not only in words, rather we are practically engaged in serious security and stabilization efforts inside Afghanistan, and have discernible achievements to show," Muttaqi said during a meeting of Afghanistan's neighboring nations in Samarkand in Uzbekistan.
The minister claimed that no major security incident has taken place in Afghanistan's neighborhood after the Taliban stormed back to power in Kabul in August 2021.
"We encapsulate Afghanistan's interests in the framework of regional security, stability, and economic connectivity, and this precise discourse can best guarantee the interests of our entire region," he opined.
Muttaqi also asserted that stability in Afghanistan was vital for regional security as instability in the war-torn country could result in the proliferation of arms and ammunition, the illegal drug trade, and a spurt in terrorism in the region.
The Taliban FM's comments come at a time when the country faces intense criticism from Islamabad, which argues that Afghan soil is being increasingly used by the proscribed Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group to launch attacks on Pakistani establishments.
Islamabad Issues Warning to Kabul
Earlier this week, Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif urged the Taliban to take action against TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan, threatening cross-border raids from Islamabad's security forces to the contrary.
"We have communicated to Kabul during our last visit that please, as our neighbors and brothers, whatever is emanating from Afghan soil is your responsibility," he said earlier this week. "If that is not done, at some point we'll have to (…) resort to some measures, which will definitely – wherever (terrorists) are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil – we'll have to hit them. We'll have to hit them because we cannot tolerate this situation for long."
*under UN sanctions for terrorism
** Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other states
** Pakistani Taliban, officially known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other states