Pakistan Rejects Afghan Taliban's Call for Dialogue, Demands Action Against Terror Groups

Pakistan on Saturday dismissed what it described as the Afghan Taliban's "pretence of dialogue," saying it would not allow diplomatic overtures to serve as cover for militants threatening Pakistani citizens.

The statement from Pakistan's information ministry came in response to comments made a day earlier by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with Al Arabiya English. Mujahid had expressed Kabul's desire for dialogue with Islamabad and called for improved intelligence-sharing mechanisms between the two countries. He also suggested that Saudi Arabia, as a mutual friend, could serve as a constructive mediator in resolving bilateral tensions.

Pakistan pushed back firmly, rejecting Kabul's accompanying threat of "retaliatory action" should Islamabad carry out cross-border military operations. Instead, the ministry urged the Taliban government to dismantle the terrorist networks operating from Afghan soil rather than deflecting responsibility.

Mujahid had warned Pakistan against launching operations inside Afghanistan and pledged that Kabul would defend its sovereignty, even invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify a right to self-defense. He further denied that Afghan territory was being used by militant groups to stage attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan reiterated that it possesses both the "will and capability" to neutralize terrorist threats and would take all necessary steps in line with international law to safeguard its people and territorial integrity.

Kohat Attack Tied to Afghan-Based Militants

Linking its stance to a deadly assault on worshippers and police officers at a mosque in Kohat, Pakistan described the perpetrators as "the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan." The ministry strongly condemned the attack and pointed to what it called a long-standing pattern of militant groups using Afghan territory to plan and execute violence inside Pakistan.

The state employs the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan said the presence of terrorist safe havens, along with recruitment and logistical infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct security threat — a concern it has repeatedly communicated to the Taliban regime.

Doha Agreement Obligations Cited

Pakistan also dismissed Mujahid's claim that Kabul does not permit the TTP to operate from Afghan territory or support armed groups targeting neighboring states. Islamabad reminded Kabul of its obligations under the Doha Agreement to ensure Afghan soil is not used to threaten other nations.

While Pakistan acknowledged the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement expressing sympathy for the victims of the Kohat attack, it noted with regret that the statement made no reference to terrorism. "Condemnation must be matched by concrete action," the ministry said, calling on the Taliban to adopt "credible, verifiable and sustained measures" to destroy terrorist networks and disrupt recruitment pipelines.