Pakistan Rejects Use of ‘Regime Change’ Term Regarding Afghanistan, Emphasizes Respect for Sovereignty

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the use of the term “regime change” in relation to Afghanistan is unacceptable to Islamabad, emphasizing the country’s respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Tahir Andarabi, spokesperson for the ministry, said in a press conference that Pakistan believes the choice of government is the right of the Afghan people and that Islamabad is ready to cooperate with the current ruling structure in Kabul. He stressed that Pakistan does not accept interference in the internal affairs of neighboring countries.

Andarabi also described recent statements by the Taliban administration’s foreign minister and fatwas issued by some religious scholars as “a positive development,” adding that Islamabad hopes these positions will be accompanied by a clear and practical commitment to ensure that Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson further referred to the status of Pakistani students and citizens in Kabul, stating that so far, 15 students and 291 others who had contact with the Pakistani embassy have safely returned to Pakistan in good health. He noted that Pakistan’s diplomatic missions remain in coordination with relevant agencies to secure the safety and repatriation of other individuals in contact with Afghan authorities.

Inside Pakistan, amid these developments, some political parties have criticized the failure of talks between Kabul and Islamabad. Recently, the spokesperson of the Awami National Party stated that sending negotiators without understanding the mindset of the Afghan society has led to an unsuccessful outcome of these talks.

This comes while the Taliban administration has repeatedly affirmed that Afghan soil has not been used against any country, including Pakistan.