In a wide-ranging diplomatic briefing on Thursday, February 12, 2026, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional stability, clarifying that while Islamabad demands decisive action against cross-border terrorism, it remains firmly committed to a “diplomacy first” approach with Afghanistan.
Pakistan on Thursday reiterated that it is neither closing the door on diplomacy nor seeking war with #Afghanistan, while urging the #Taliban regime to take “concrete action” against terrorist groups operating from #Afghan soil, Geo News reported.https://t.co/9wRO7YyR9r pic.twitter.com/RNPAmyYWjz
— The Kabul Tribune (@TheKabultribun) February 12, 2026
Diplomacy over Conflict
Addressing recent discussions regarding potential pre-emptive strikes against terrorist hideouts, the Spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan seeks to avoid escalating tensions into a full-scale conflict between the “two brotherly countries.”
“Diplomacy continues even during skirmishes. We would not shut the door of diplomacy, just as much as we would not want to open the door of war,” Andrabi stated.
However, he acknowledged the “deep disappointment” reflected in recent government statements regarding the Afghan interim authorities’ failure to dismantle the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda networks operating with increased freedom on their soil.
UNSC Report Validates Concerns
The Foreign Office cited the latest United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report, which corroborates Pakistan’s long-standing narrative. The report confirms:
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A “permissive environment” in Afghanistan for the TTP and other militant factions.
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The TTP’s resurgence is directly linked to the post-2021 Afghan government takeover.
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Al-Qaeda’s active role in providing training and advisory services to the TTP.
Global Outreach: The Board of Peace Summit
Pakistan also confirmed its high-level participation in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP), scheduled for February 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will lead the Pakistani delegation. Pakistan joins the board as part of a collective voice of eight Islamic-Arab nations focused on:
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Palestinian Sovereignty: Advocating for a state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
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Gaza Reconstruction: Participating in the BoP’s primary mandate of fundraising and postwar management of the Strip.
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Geopolitical Mediation: Utilizing the summit to potentially discuss Iran-US nuclear talks and regional de-escalation with President Donald Trump.
Bilateral Relations and Trade Targets
The Spokesperson also highlighted successful recent state visits from the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, resulting in ambitious trade targets of $2 billion and $1 billion, respectively, signaling Pakistan’s pivot toward strengthening Central Asian economic corridors.
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