Pakistan summoned Afghanistan’s ambassador on October 11, 2025, to lodge a sharp protest over a joint India-Afghanistan statement issued during Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s six-day visit to New Delhi, which began October 9. The Pakistani Foreign Office (FO) expressed "strong reservations" about the statement’s reference to Jammu and Kashmir as part of India, calling it a "clear violation" of UN Security Council resolutions.

The India-Afghanistan statement condemned a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April, expressing solidarity with India and denouncing all terrorism from regional countries, a stance Islamabad found provocative. Pakistan rejected Muttaqi’s claim that terrorism is solely its internal issue, insisting that Kabul cannot dodge its responsibility to prevent Afghan soil from being used by groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks, including a recent assault killing 20 Pakistani security personnel.

The FO underscored Pakistan’s decades-long hospitality toward nearly four million Afghan refugees but urged unauthorized nationals to return home, citing Afghanistan’s restored peace. “Like all other countries, Pakistan has the right to regulate the presence of foreign nationals,” the FO stated, while noting continued issuance of medical and study visas to Afghans as a gesture of goodwill.

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Pakistan reaffirmed its vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan, highlighting trade and connectivity initiatives to foster cooperation. However, it demanded that the Afghan Interim Government take “concrete measures” to curb terrorist activities targeting Pakistan from its territory. The FO’s statement comes amid heightened tensions, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of supporting TTP militants and Afghanistan retaliating with deadly border clashes following Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul and Paktika.

As diplomatic friction escalates, Pakistan’s move signals growing unease with Afghanistan’s warming ties to India, especially after Muttaqi’s high-profile visit. The dispute over the joint statement and terrorism accusations threatens to further strain bilateral relations, with regional stability hanging in the balance as both nations navigate a complex web of security and diplomatic challenges.

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