Formal Warning Issued Over Border Security
Pakistan has once again called upon Afghanistan’s Taliban administration to immediately dismantle cross-border militant networks operating from Afghan soil. Addressing a think tank gathering in Islamabad, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar disclosed that he had personally cautioned Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund during diplomatic talks in Kabul, warning that harboring extremist factions like Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) would ultimately undermine the Taliban’s own internal regime stability.
Diplomatic Engagement Stalled by Security Concerns
Despite Islamabad’s efforts to strengthen economic ties, elevate diplomatic representation, and support regional infrastructure projects—including a trans-Afghan railway connecting Pakistan to Central Asia—Dar emphasized that these overtures have yielded no concrete commitments on security guarantees. Highlighted by repeated border skirmishes and retaliatory airstrikes, bilateral relations remain strained over cross-border violence. Citing United Nations data, reports indicate over 1,100 civilian casualties from border clashes this year alone, while internal security figures record more than 2,800 militant strikes in Pakistan since January.
Extensive Military Fencing and Intelligence Disclosures
Outlining the physical parameters of Pakistan’s defense posture, the Foreign Minister noted that approximately 95 percent of the 2,600-kilometer (1,600-mile) border fence along the Durand Line has been completed to prevent sanctuary-seeking insurgents from retreating into rugged terrain. Joining Dar at the forum, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar cited independent assessments estimating that Afghanistan currently harbors over 20,000 militants, including roughly 6,000 TTP operatives. Both ministers reiterated that sustainable bilateral trade and good-neighborly relations cannot exist alongside persistent cross-border terrorism
