Pakistan and Kazakhstan Discuss Security Threats from Afghanistan

Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, held an official meeting to discuss security concerns related to Afghanistan, emphasizing the prevention of using Afghan territory to threaten other countries.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Wednesday, January 31st, that the two leaders consider stability and security in Afghanistan as fundamental conditions for expanding regional cooperation; a matter that, according to them, directly affects the security and development of neighboring countries.

The statement also noted that Afghanistan’s participation in regional economic cooperation projects and connectivity infrastructure could benefit not only the Afghan people but the entire region, provided stability is ensured. Achieving this goal, however, requires responsible management of the security situation by the Taliban administration.

Pakistan has previously accused the Taliban administration of being unable to control armed groups, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stating that the continuation of this situation undermines regional trust. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations last year; despite this decision, concerns about the security repercussions of Afghanistan remain widespread across the region.