In a phone call, Sharif tells Anwar Ibrahim that Pakistan faces ‘persistent terrorism’ from Afghan soil and calls for ‘immediate and effective’ action from Kabul
Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level telephone conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, providing a detailed briefing on the sharply deteriorating security situation along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. The discussion highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to mobilize international attention and galvanise support to pressure Kabul’s de facto authorities amid rising cross-border militancy.
During the call, Prime Minister Sharif outlined what he described as “persistent terrorism from across the Afghan border,” emphasising that militants continue to plan and carry out deadly attacks from Afghan soil with impunity. He called on the Taliban government to take “immediate and effective action” against the sanctuaries and operational networks of terrorist groups, stressing that decisive measures were necessary to prevent further destabilization and ensure the safety of civilian populations along the frontier.
Sharif revealed that Pakistan had agreed to a provisional ceasefire during recent talks in Doha, a gesture undertaken at the request of Afghan officials to facilitate dialogue. He, however, warned that such diplomatic forbearance was neither unconditional nor indefinite, stressing that “practical and concrete measures” against all terrorist factions were indispensable for any sustainable peace along the volatile border areas.
The prime minister specifically identified groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as existential threats that required urgent action from the Afghan authorities. He highlighted that any meaningful progress depended on tangible steps to dismantle militant networks and neutralize their capacity to plan and execute attacks across the frontier, framing the issue as both a national security and regional stability concern.
According to a statement from the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office, Anwar Ibrahim expressed deep concern over the rising tensions and assured Pakistan of continued engagement on regional security matters. The exchange reflected a shared commitment to stabilizing the border regions, reducing civilian harm, and curbing the operational reach of militant groups.
The conversation underlines Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic outreach to keep key international partners informed about its security challenges and to build a consensus for urging Kabul to rein in cross-border militancy. Analysts say such engagement forms part of Islamabad’s broader strategy to prevent escalation, reinforce regional stability, and demonstrate that Pakistan is taking all possible steps to safeguard its territory and citizens from ongoing threats along one of South Asia’s most sensitive frontiers.
