ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said future engagement with Afghanistan will depend on measurable action by Kabul against militant groups blamed for attacks inside Pakistan.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan stated that Islamabad had conveyed at multiple levels that security concerns must be addressed before meaningful cooperation can proceed.
He said recent months had seen an increase in cross-border militant incidents, which Pakistan attributes to groups operating from Afghan territory. Afghan authorities have previously rejected such allegations.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced heightened tensions following security incidents along the border last year. Islamabad also suspended trade ties after clashes despite subsequent diplomatic contacts.
The minister said Pakistan remained open to dialogue and economic cooperation but could not move forward while security threats persisted.
He added that economic considerations were important but national sovereignty and public safety remained the country’s foremost priority.
Officials say the suspension of trade has affected businesses on both sides of the border, though Pakistan maintains that security conditions must improve before relations normalize.
