Pakistan Toughens Stance as Afghan Taliban Defy Demands

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan has conveyed a firm message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism to the Afghan Taliban, amid growing frustration over Kabul’s continued reluctance to act against militant networks operating from Afghan soil.

According to security sources, Islamabad presented a set of “clear, evidence-based and solution-oriented” demands during the ongoing counterterrorism talks in Istanbul, urging the Taliban regime to dismantle militant sanctuaries and prevent attacks on Pakistan.

However, officials familiar with the discussions said the Afghan Taliban remain uncooperative and inflexible, refusing to acknowledge the ground realities — a position that has also raised concerns among mediating parties, including Turkiye and Qatar.

Turkiye’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin is leading mediation efforts, attempting to bridge the gap by helping the Taliban delegation understand the evidence and gravity of Pakistan’s concerns.

“Any tolerance or shelter for militants targeting Pakistan will not be acceptable,” a senior Pakistani security official said, adding that further progress hinges on the Taliban’s willingness to engage in good faith.

During the second round of talks in Istanbul, Pakistan presented its final position, calling on the Taliban to take “concrete and definitive” steps to curb cross-border militancy. Officials said the Taliban’s responses were “illogical and detached from realities,” deepening doubts about their sincerity toward ensuring regional stability.

The current dialogue follows an earlier round of negotiations held in Doha, Qatar, on October 19, which were also mediated by Qatar and Turkiye. That phase concluded with a temporary ceasefire after intense border clashes instigated by Taliban-aligned fighters.

Pakistan launched a retaliatory campaign following those attacks, conducting precision strikes in Afghanistan’s Kandahar and Kabul provinces, which reportedly destroyed multiple terrorist strongholds. During the clashes, over 200 militants were killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.

In the aftermath, Islamabad closed border crossings with Afghanistan, citing the safety of its citizens as a higher priority than trade or the movement of goods.

Meanwhile, Pakistan continues to voice concerns that the Taliban regime is facilitating India’s proxy influence in the region.

Speaking to reporters in Sialkot on Saturday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused India of waging a proxy war through the Afghan Taliban.

“If these talks fail, there could be an all-out war with the Taliban regime,” Asif warned, though he added that the Doha negotiations had shown a “genuine urge for peace.”

The outcome of the Istanbul talks, officials say, will depend entirely on whether the Taliban leadership chooses cooperation over confrontation in addressing Pakistan’s counterterrorism concerns.