Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday criticized the previous government, saying Pakistan paid a heavy price for a “cup of tea” when the border with Afghanistan was opened under that pretext, ARY News reported.
Addressing the Senate session, Dar said the border decision, taken by the former administration, led to serious consequences for national security. Without naming the PTI government, he alleged that around 100 hardened criminals were also released during that period.
The deputy premier revealed that he had received six phone calls from Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, during which Pakistan lodged a formal complaint, demanding that no terrorist activities be launched from Afghan soil.
Dar said that while he has always supported Afghanistan as a brotherly Islamic nation, he was deeply disappointed by the ongoing cross-border terrorism originating from there.
Expressing optimism, he noted that progress could be made when both sides meet again in Istanbul on November 6.
He further mentioned that Pakistan’s recent dialogues with Afghanistan’s interim government in Türkiye and Qatar aimed to strengthen cooperation to counter cross-border militancy. Dar stated that militant groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Fitna al-Hindustan BLA are operating from Afghan territory and carrying out attacks against Pakistan.
During the discussions, Pakistan presented solid evidence of these groups’ involvement, with Türkiye and Qatar facilitating the talks between the two neighboring countries.
