Pakistan has once again reminded the Afghan Taliban regime of its obligations under international and bilateral commitments: Afghan soil must not be used to harbor or facilitate terrorism against Pakistan. The message was delivered firmly when Afghan interim ambassador Sardar Ahmed Shakib was summoned to the Foreign Office, where Additional Foreign Secretary Syed Ali Assad Gilani conveyed Islamabad’s deep concern over the recent surge in terrorist activities by Fitna al-Khawarij elements, operating from Afghanistan with external support from India’s RAW.
The warning comes at a sensitive moment, as Pakistan grapples with increasing terror incidents linked to TTP safe havens across the border. For Pakistan, the distinction is clear: if the Taliban continue to turn a blind eye to these sanctuaries, such complicity will amount to “hostile activity.” In diplomatic terms, this signals a serious strain in bilateral ties, with potential consequences for regional peace.
The urgency of the matter is underscored by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Muhammad Sadiq Khan’s backchannel mission to the UAE, followed by a planned high-level visit to Kabul. His mandate is unambiguous: to deliver a stern message from Pakistan’s leadership that continued inaction against TTP militants will not be tolerated. A direct meeting with interim Afghan Foreign Minister Mulla Amir Muttaqi is expected to test Kabul’s willingness to cooperate.
At the same time, reports of terrorists killed near Iran’s Chah Bahar, including Afghan nationals with BLA ties, illustrate the wider regional web of militancy destabilizing the neighborhood. Pakistan’s warning to Afghanistan thus resonates beyond bilateral disputes—it highlights the need for collective responsibility to dismantle cross-border terror networks.
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Islamabad’s position is consistent: it seeks peaceful coexistence but will not allow its sovereignty and security to be undermined by Afghan-based militants. The Taliban now face a decisive test—either honor their commitments or risk further isolation.
