Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan recently conveyed the concerns of party founder Imran Khan regarding the escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, attributing them to what he termed as the government’s “bad” foreign policy.
Speaking outside Adiala jail after a meeting with Khan, Gohar expressed dismay over the deteriorating relations between Islamabad and Kabul, particularly concerning security challenges along Pakistan’s northwestern borders. He noted that such a situation had not arisen during PTI’s tenure in government.
The strained relations between the two countries stem from intensified terror attacks in Pakistan allegedly orchestrated from Afghan soil. Gohar blamed the current state of affairs on the foreign policy of the Shehbaz Sharif-led government.
Recent intelligence-based operations (IBOs) conducted by Pakistani forces within Afghan border regions aimed to target terrorists responsible for attacks originating from Afghan territory. These operations followed the devastating March 16 attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, which claimed numerous civilian and law enforcement lives.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s concerns to the interim Afghan government regarding the presence of terror outfits, including the TTP, within Afghan borders. These groups pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s security, consistently using Afghan territory as a launchpad for attacks.
Despite challenges, Gohar reiterated confidence in Pakistan’s armed forces, affirming their capability to defend the nation. Regarding PTI’s letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he clarified that it aimed to remind the lender of Pakistan’s situation, emphasizing that protests outside the IMF headquarters in the United States were organized by overseas Pakistanis, not the party itself.
