Pakistan’s Foreign Office says continued dialogue with Afghanistan on restoring normal relations depends on Kabul taking action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Balochistan Liberation Army, and other groups it says operate from Afghan soil, spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said.
No Thaw Without Action, FO Says
Speaking at a press briefing, Andrabi said Islamabad has “always remained positively engaged for constructive dialogue on the subject of Afghanistan,” but stressed that any resumption of substantive talks hinges on Kabul creating a conducive atmosphere, primarily by stopping cross-border movement of terrorists, according to Dawn.
He said Pakistan appreciates China’s constructive and sustained engagement on Afghanistan related issues, pointing to Beijing’s role in previous rounds of mediation between the two neighbors.
Taliban Officials Reject the Accusation
Officials of the Taliban run Islamic Emirate have repeatedly said they remain committed to preventing Afghan territory from being used to threaten the security of other countries, and will not allow any group to operate from Afghan soil against Pakistan, according to Ariana News.
The exchange follows months of strained relations between the two countries, which saw direct military confrontation earlier this year after Pakistan accused TTP fighters based in Afghanistan of carrying out a string of deadly attacks on its territory.
A Fragile, Informal Ceasefire
An informal ceasefire understanding reached under an internationally mediated framework earlier this year has held only loosely, with intermittent tension continuing along the shared border known as the Durand Line even as both sides say they remain open to talks.
Pakistan has consistently framed any return to normalized relations as contingent on verifiable Afghan action against militant sanctuaries, while Kabul has pushed back on claims that it enables cross-border attacks.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly pointed to a United Nations sanctions monitoring report noting that the Taliban relocated roughly 2,000 TTP fighters and their families away from areas bordering Pakistan, calling it a limited but insufficient step. Islamabad maintains that dismantling militant sanctuaries entirely, rather than merely relocating them, is the minimum condition for a durable normalization of ties.
Regional diplomats say further rounds of talks are likely to continue on the sidelines of multilateral forums, with China, Qatar and Saudi Arabia among the countries that have previously offered to mediate between the two neighbors.
