Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again denied the entry of Pakistani military forces into the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan. Shafqat Ali Khan stated, “This region is part of Afghanistan, and we respect its territorial integrity.”
In a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, January 16, the spokesperson reiterated that the Wakhan Corridor is part of Afghan territory, and Pakistan recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. Previously, former Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, had made similar statements.
“Wakhan corridor is part of Afghan territory. There is no question of having any designs over any neighbours sovereign territory”, he said in his weekly briefing.
Recently, reports on social media claimed that the Pakistani army had entered the Wakhan region of Badakhshan and intended to declare the area part of its own territory.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson also called on the Taliban to take action against “terrorists” who have sought refuge in Afghanistan.
According to Ali Khan, Pakistan seeks good and strong relations with Afghanistan but emphasized that “the main issue is the presence of terrorist sanctuaries within Afghanistan,” and both countries are in contact through multilateral interactions on this matter.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of collaborating with and supporting armed groups opposed to Pakistan, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, Taliban officials have consistently denied these allegations.
The ongoing tensions regarding the Wakhan Corridor and the issue of cross-border terrorism continue to strain relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries face a critical need for diplomatic cooperation to address these challenges and ensure long-term stability in the region.
As regional security concerns grow, it will be essential for both nations to engage in transparent dialogue to resolve their differences, particularly regarding border security and counterterrorism efforts.