Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said Pakistan was ?forced? to halt all trade with Afghanistan due to Kabul?s inaction against terrorists operating from its soil.

The Pak-Afghan border has been closed for trade since mid-October 2025, when border clashes erupted. Successive rounds of talks on counter-terrorism mechanisms failed to produce a workable solution despite mediation by Turkiye and Qatar.

?There is a complete blockade of Pak-Afghan trade. It should not have been there, but they forced us,? the premier said while addressing a national workshop event in Islamabad.

?This time, it must be decided whether Afghanistan wants to live peacefully or not [?] They are our brothers and sisters. If the interim Afghan government does not have an interest in this (peace with Pakistan), they should at least have mercy on its people and not oppress them.?

?Rest assured, we will keep trying our best,? the prime minister added.

While trade data shows that the border closure has hit Afghanistan far harder than Pakistan, exporters and the business community have raised concerns over the losses being faced by them.

?It is our neighbouring country, we have to live forever [?] what is good for Afghanistan is good for Pakistan, and vice versa,? the prime minister remarked.

He called it unfortunate that the past and the incumbent Afghan governments ?did not cherish the hospitality? offered by Pakistan.

The premier added that while international aid was received for the four million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the country also had to use its own resources.

He further said that Pakistan did no favour to the Afghan people but fulfilled its responsibilities.

?But the way they are paying us back is very upsetting,? the prime minister added.

PM Shehbaz noted that the 2020 Doha Accords were ?very clear? in stating that Afghanistan will rein in terrorist activity in the country and will not allow any terrorist to operate from their territory.

Recalling ministers? various meetings held with Afghan leaders, the premier lamented, ?But they did not adhere to a single one of our recommendations.?

Recalling the Pak-Afghan border clashes of October 2025 and the subsequent rounds of talks that failed, he said, ?Nothing came of it. We had only one demand that you commit to rein in all terrorist outfits and proxies, whether it is the TTP, BLA, or the resources provided to them by India?s support.?

?Unfortunately, they did not make any serious commitment,? he added.

?Terrorism resurged after 2018?

In his address, PM Shehbaz also spoke at length about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the surge in terrorism.

Calling the province a ?beautiful region? of Pakistan, he hailed that its people ?never hesitate from sacrificing their lives for their country?.

?Whatever happened as a result of the Afghan War is in front of you,? the premier said, highlighting that Pakistan welcomed refugees from across the border and had them live here ?like a family?.

?[But] what did pakistan get in return?? asked the prime minister.

He recalled that ?thousands of innocent Pakistanis? lost their lives due to terrorism and ?political houses sympathetic to KP? gave sacrifices.

?And in 2018, terrorism was completely eradicated and everyone knew that it had been done as a result of great sacrifices,? PM Shehbaz said.

He pointed out that in the wake of the 2014 Army Public School attack, the armed forces and the government decided that ?there will be no good or bad Taliban?. ?And look, today there is no such difference,? the premier asserted.

?But after 2018, what was the reason that this menace resurged?? he asked, adding that ?we all know the answer very well?.

?Numerous terrorists were released from Swat and thousands of people were called from Afghanistan to live in Pakistan. And this was the major reason that terrorism resurged in Pakistan,? PM Shehbaz said.

?Terrorism has today again carried out a major attack on this country?s development and prosperity especially in Balochistan and KP, and usually in other areas.

?Every day somewhere, there is a terrorist incident,? he added.

While hailing that there could be ?no greater sacrifice? than that made by soldiers, he regretted that hatred was spread on social media and an ?evil attempt is made to defame the martyrs?.

?They spew venom against Pakistan in chorus with Pakistan?s enemies across the border,? the prime minister said, adding that the nation will continue its fight against terrorism till it was completely eradicated.

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