Afghan FM’s India Visit Sparks Pakistani Diplomatic Concern

Pakistan has formally registered its objections to a joint statement issued during the high-profile visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, summoning Afghanistan’s envoy. The move highlights Pakistan’s unease with the deepening diplomatic engagement between India and Afghanistan. Central to Pakistan’s concerns are the references to Jammu and Kashmir as an integral part of India and Afghanistan’s commitment to not permit its territory from being utilized for activities against India. Pakistan argues these points contradict UN resolutions and are disrespectful to the sentiments of the people in the region. This position is consistent with Pakistan’s long-held stance on the Kashmir issue, a territory India considers a fundamental part of its national identity. Beyond the Kashmir issue, Pakistan also contested the Afghan Foreign Minister’s view that terrorism is a domestic Pakistani concern, asserting it has shared proof of terrorist operations originating from Afghan territory. The growing strategic alliance between India and Afghanistan, including India’s pledge to strengthen its diplomatic presence in Kabul, is a development that seems to have put Pakistan on the defensive.