Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticizes Mahmood Khan Achakzai for repeatedly discussing Kabul and urges him to focus on Pakistan’s domestic affairs and engage with the prime minister.
Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has criticized Mahmood Khan Achakzai over his repeated references to Kabul and his use of the term “Durand Line” for the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, urging the opposition leader to focus more on Pakistan’s domestic affairs.
Speaking on ARY News’ program “Aitraaz Hai” on Oct. 17, 2026, Tarar said Achakzai frequently discussed Kabul and its people in his speeches in the National Assembly while giving comparatively less attention to Pakistan’s own affairs.
Tarar said Achakzai would readily travel to Kabul for a meeting if asked, alleging that he consistently gave preference to Kabul over Islamabad. He also criticized what he described as Achakzai’s reluctance to meet political leaders in Pakistan.
“Achakzai sahib has a strange policy: none of his speeches in the National Assembly ends without mentioning Kabul,” Tarar said, according to the remarks provided.
Tarar Objects to the Term ‘Durand Line’
Tarar also challenged Achakzai’s repeated use of the term “Durand Line” when referring to the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said he had urged Achakzai to recognize the border as an international frontier rather than refer to it as a line drawn by the British.
“We have told him, for God’s sake, that this is an international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, not a Durand Line drawn by the British. Stop calling it the Durand Line,” Tarar said.
The minister argued that Achakzai referred to Kabul and its people in his speeches more frequently than he discussed Pakistan. Tarar described this approach as incorrect and stressed that the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier should be recognized as an international border.
His comments focused on the language used to describe the border, as well as what he characterized as Achakzai’s emphasis on Afghanistan in parliamentary speeches.
Tarar Urges Achakzai to Meet the Prime Minister
Tarar also urged Achakzai to pay greater attention to Islamabad and engage with Pakistan’s political leadership, including the prime minister.
“You express great concern for Kabul, but the Constitution has also entrusted you, as opposition leader, with responsibilities concerning Pakistan’s affairs. You should fulfill those responsibilities as well,” Tarar said.
The minister’s remarks linked his criticism of Achakzai’s references to Kabul with a broader call for the opposition leader to engage more directly with Pakistan’s domestic political issues.
The comments were made during the ARY News program “Aitraaz Hai” on Oct. 17. The remarks reflect Tarar’s criticism of Achakzai’s parliamentary speeches and his position on terminology used for the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
About The Author
