Pakistan warns of regional security risks from Afghan militant threats

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that the terrorist threat originating from Afghanistan poses significant risks to the wider region. Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad, Dar stated that militants are launching attacks from across the border before retreating to sanctuaries within Afghan territory.

Dar emphasized that the security threat is evolving, noting that militant groups are utilizing social media, encrypted platforms, drones, and artificial intelligence to spread propaganda. He also highlighted the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital channels for fundraising. The minister urged the international community to pressure the Taliban authorities to fulfill their commitments to prevent these groups from finding safe haven.

Tensions between the two neighbors have escalated following a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, as well as recent Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. While Kabul has denied harboring militants and accused Islamabad of violating its sovereignty, the United Nations Mission in Afghanistan reported over 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries resulting from cross-border violence in Afghanistan this year.