Mr Qureshi then claimed India’s presence in Afghanistan was “larger than it ought to be”, and accused India of “carrying out terrorist activities” from Afghan soil. Pakistan has no business in deciding, or even having a view on, what is an acceptable degree of Indian presence in Afghanistan. This is between Delhi and Kabul.

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But the statement is in line with Pakistan’s utter disregard for Afghan sovereignty — and the aspirations of Afghans to deepen ties with India. But even more absurd are allegations of terrorism coming from a country which has exported terror as a matter of State policy to both its east and west. India may deploy tools of statecraft for its national interests. But it draws a red line at terrorism, and remains firm and unequivocal in opposition to politics of violence. Pakistan has peddled this myth, primarily as an excuse for its own failure in Balochistan (which is supposedly the target of Indian attention), and to get the international community to force India to step back its engagement in Afghanistan.

What Mr Qureshi’s statements actually reveal is that Pakistan is not interested in peace, progress or development in Afghanistan, nor is interested in shedding its anti-Indian nationalism. All it seeks is to convert Kabul into a protectorate, with the power to veto Afghanistan’s political choices and foreign policy priorities. In the name of peace, the world must not allow this to happen and must stick to clear redlines. Don’t enable a violent Taliban’s return to power and a reckless Pakistan’s expanded role in the heart of Asia.