Coward Pakistan backs down after Taliban’s stern warning, Kabul makes BIG statement on India-Afghanistan relations, says Afghans want to…

Pakistan-Taliban war: Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Kabul on Thursday, which coincided with the commencement of a six-day visit by Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India, signaling Islamabad’s frustration with growing India-Afghanistan relations.

However, on Friday Pakistan softened its stance following a stern warning from the Taliban Defense Ministry, stating that Islamabad respects Afghanistan’s sovereign right to establish relations with any country, while urging Kabul to ensure that Afghan territory is not used to launch attacks on Pakistani soil.

In his weekly press briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Afghanistan is a sovereign nation, and Islamabad will not comment on Kabul’s bilateral ties with other countries.

“Afghanistan is a sovereign, independent country and we have no comment on its bilateral relations with any other country. Our request to Afghanistan has been that Afghan territory should not be used against Pakistan, while respecting their sovereign right to advance their foreign affairs,” he said.

Why Pakistan is rattled by India-Afghanistan ties?

According to experts, the growing India-Afghanistan relations have raised alarm bells in Pakistan, and the attacks in Kabul on the same night when Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on a six-day visit, is a clear sign of Islamabad’s frustration.

Reacting to the attack, Muttaqi warned Pakistan against “playing games” with Afghanistan, and cautioned that the “courage of Afghans should not be tested”.

“There has been an attack near the border in remote areas. We consider this act of Pakistan wrong. Problems cannot be solved like this… We have kept the door to discussion open. They should solve their problem on their own. Afghanistan has peace and progress after 40 years. No one should have a problem with it… We are an independent nation. Why are people troubled if we have peace… We want better relations with India and Pakistan, but it cannot be one-sided,” the Taliban minister said at a presser at the Afghanistan embassy in Delhi on Thursday.

“The courage of Afghans should not be tested. If someone wants to do this, they should ask the Soviet Union, America and NATO, so that they can explain that it is not good to play games with Afghanistan,” he added on Friday.

Muttaqi also addressed Pakistan’s allegations about Afghan territory being used for terrorism, assuring that it will “never happen” because “There is an Afghan rule on Afghan land. The government there is strong…”.

What Muttaqi said about India-Afghanistan relations?

The Afghan foreign minister spoke about enhancing economic cooperation between Kabul and New Delhi, stating that the ruling Taliban regime wants Afghans to work in India, and Indians to work in Afghanistan’s hospitals, mines and other ventures. “We will do business here in India. We want people to work in hospitals, electricity, mines… We will welcome people there.”

He also emphasised the strategic importance of the Chabahar route for Afghanistan-India trade and urged joint discussions with the United States to address obstacles, including sanctions.

“Chabahar will be a good way… India and Afghanistan should try to remove obstacles… because the US has also put some sanctions. India and Afghanistan should have joint talks with the US. It is the need for both of us to use this route. We understand the importance of trade, which has increased, and all trade routes should be open… If the route is closed, it affects trade between India and Afghanistan,” Muttaqi said.

On diplomatic engagement, the Afghan Foreign Minister said, “Mr. Jaishankar has told us that we can send diplomats to New Delhi,” signalling progress in strengthening formal ties between the two countries.

Muttaqi also highlighted the cultural and educational connection with India, particularly the Islamic centre at Deoband. “Deoband is a big centre for the Islamic world. It is connected with Afghanistan. Deoband is a roohani markaz. Deoband is a big Islamic Markaz, and Afghanistan and Deoband are connected, and hence I am going to meet the leaders there tomorrow. We want our spiritual students to come and study here, too,” he said.

The Taliban minister is on a week-long visit to India, beginning from October 9 till October 16. This is the first high-level delegation from Kabul to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021. On Friday, Muttaqi met his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, where New Delhi announced the elevation of its mission in Kabul to full embassy status.

(With inputs from agencies)

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