'Choose between terrorists or Pakistan', PM Shehbaz tells Kabul

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism, calling on Afghanistan to take a clear position between supporting terrorist elements or maintaining relations with Pakistan.

During a visit to Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the premier chaired a high-level meeting on counterterrorism. He stated that Pakistan would continue to respond firmly to terrorism and those allegedly facilitating Indian-backed proxies.

Shehbaz Sharif warned that any individual or group supporting foreign elements would be regarded as their instrument and dealt with accordingly. He further noted that Afghan nationals were found to be involved in recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan, adding that undocumented Afghan residents would face immediate expulsion.

Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades, from the Soviet invasion of 1979 to the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. According to official data, more than 554,000 Afghans have been repatriated since April 2025 under the government’s Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, including approximately 145,000 in August alone.

The prime minister also visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bannu, where he met injured security personnel. A detailed briefing on the regional security situation was given by the Peshawar Corps Commander.

Security officials maintain that masterminds and facilitators of terrorist activities are based in Afghanistan and receive support from India. The premier stressed that Pakistan’s people, government, and armed forces remained united against terrorism, rejecting political divisions and what he described as misleading narratives on the matter.