Islamabad: Pakistani and Afghan officials met in Kabul on Wednesday to discuss the growing threat of terrorism in the region, particularly from the banned militant groups Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).

“The two sides agreed to collaborate to effectively address the threat of terrorism posed by various entities and organisations” according to Pakistan Foreign Office.

The official media release added that both sides “agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields to further enhance the fraternal relations between the two countries.”

Pakistani delegation included defense minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) to Afghanistan Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani and Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq.

The delegation met senior leadership of the Afghan government including Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, Defence Minister Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Peshawar killings

Security and border-related issues dominated the talks in Kabul. Pakistani side raised the issue of increasing terrorist attacks in its territory in recent months which Islamabad believes are carried out by Afghanistan-based TTP militants.

Pakistan has seen an uptick in bombings from across the border since August 2021 when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. More than 80 policemen were killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque inside a police compound in Peshawar city last month.

The official statement from Afghan Taliban said that the two sides discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, and trade.

“Afghanistan emphasises the development of commercial and economic ties with Pakistan as they are in the interest of both countries” Ghani Baradar, the Afghan deputy prime minister, said. Baradar also called for the release of Afghan refugees who are currently in Pakistan prisons, and to facilitate travel through Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings, especially those seeking emergency medical care,” according to Afghan media.

The meeting comes after the closure of a key Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing, Torkham, after an exchange of gunfire between the security personnel on both sides. Trucks lined up on both sides of the border amid the closure, affecting businesses. Taliban claimed that they closed the border after Pakistan’s alleged refusal to allow Afghan patients to enter Pakistan without travel documents. Border closures and cross-border fires are common along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.