Special envoys from Pakistan and Tajikistan met this week to discuss the growing threat of terrorism in the region and the need for a coordinated response, Pakistani officials said.

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s envoy for Afghanistan, said he and his Tajik counterpart, Khisrav Sohibzoda, agreed on the importance of developing a joint and coordinated strategy to counter extremist threats. The talks took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, he added.

Sadiq did not provide further details about the proposed strategy.

Both Pakistan and Tajikistan have repeatedly voiced concerns about the spread of terrorism from Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power four years ago.

Following a recent suicide attack on a security forces base near the Afghan border, Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the Taliban of complicity, saying that "Taliban terrorists are celebrating with the blood of our sons.”

Pakistani authorities have long alleged that the Afghan Taliban provide safe haven to fighters from Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The United Nations estimates that about 6,000 TTP militants are based in Afghanistan, where UN experts say they operate training camps.

Tajikistan has also raised alarm about militant infiltration from Afghanistan. With support from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, Dushanbe has announced plans to strengthen its Afghan border under a three-phase programme set to run over five years.