Pakistan Seeks Russian Mediation to Resolve Tensions with Afghanistan

Pakistan's ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, stated in an interview with the Izvestia newspaper that Islamabad has requested Moscow's mediation to address ongoing tensions with Afghanistan.

Tirmizi said Pakistan is engaging with Russia and appreciates its proposal, along with efforts from China, Qatar, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which contributed to a temporary ceasefire around Eid al-Fitr. He noted that Pakistan and the Taliban agreed to de-escalate at the end of Ramadan and Eid, but urged the Taliban not to use the truce to regroup and rearm.

The ambassador warned that activities of groups like ISIS-Khorasan in Afghanistan threaten not only Afghanistan and Pakistan but also Iran, Central Asia and Russia. He emphasized that decades of war in Afghanistan have broader regional consequences.

Tirmizi denied Taliban claims that a recent Pakistani airstrike in Kabul targeted a drug rehabilitation center, killing over 400 people, insisting it hit a large weapons depot. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of allowing groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan soil, a charge the Taliban deny.

Hurriyat reported that Pakistan attacked the Afghan border with heavy weapons on Eid night, causing civilian casualties, despite the ceasefire announcement.