EU envoy backs Pakistan’s stance on Afghan-based militants, urges progress on rights

The European Union’s new ambassador to Pakistan has voiced support for Islamabad’s concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan territory, while also calling for steady political and human rights reforms at home as the two sides prepare for a major round of talks.

In an interview with The News, Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis said Pakistan’s warning over the presence of the Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan reflected genuine security fears. He said the EU had taken note of the government’s repeated appeals for the Afghan Taliban to prevent the group from staging attacks across the border.

Karoblis said terrorism remained a shared challenge and called Pakistan’s expectations “legitimate”. He said no country should have to deal with threats coming from outside its borders. He also urged Islamabad to continue dialogue with Kabul and highlighted Turkiye’s role in trying to ease tensions between the two neighbours. When asked whether the Taliban were meeting their Doha pledges, he said he did not have independent intelligence to reach a final judgment and noted that it may still be too soon to make a clear assessment.

The ambassador confirmed that a high level Pakistan EU Strategic Dialogue was planned in the coming weeks. The meeting will be led by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The agenda will include Afghanistan, the Russia Ukraine conflict, regional security matters and Pakistan’s involvement at the United Nations. Other issues, such as trade and migration, will be discussed separately.

The dialogue holds added weight for Pakistan as it aims to retain its GSP Plus trade status, which gives its exports duty free access to Europe. Brussels links the scheme to progress on international human rights commitments, an area where the EU has often pushed Islamabad to improve. According to The News, Karoblis said enforced disappearances, reported most widely in Balochistan but increasingly seen in Punjab and Sindh, would remain a central point in the bloc’s monitoring review.

On Pakistan’s recent elections, he avoided questioning their legitimacy but noted that irregularities needed to be addressed to prevent future disputes. He said the EU recognised the current parliament, while keeping an eye on concerns raised by observers and political groups.

Karoblis declined to comment directly on Imran Khan’s imprisonment and said such matters rested with the courts. He added that political diversity was vital, though it should function within the rule of law.

He said the EU and its member states had committed nearly one billion euros in support after the 2022 floods, and climate adaptation would continue to guide future cooperation under the Global Gateway initiative.