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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday slammed the Afghan Taliban regime for failing to stop cross-border terrorism, saying Kabul offered &ldquo;hollow promises and inaction&rdquo; despite repeated assurances during talks mediated by Turkiye and Qatar in Istanbul earlier this week.&nbsp;In a statement, the Foreign Office said the third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks, held on November 6&ndash;7, ended without progress because the Taliban side &ldquo;tried to dilute the focus on the core issue of terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;For the past four years, since the Taliban regime came to power in Afghanistan, there has been a sharp surge in terrorist attacks emanating from Afghan soil on Pakistan,&rdquo; the spokesperson said. &ldquo;Despite suffering military and civilian casualties, Pakistan exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan said it had repeatedly engaged Kabul with &ldquo;trade concessions, humanitarian assistance and international advocacy,&rdquo; but said these gestures were not reciprocated.&nbsp;&ldquo;The response from the Taliban regime has only been hollow promises and inaction,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Islamabad said the Taliban continues to harbor militants affiliated with TTP/FaK and BLA/FaH who fled Pakistan after Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2015.&nbsp;Pakistan refers to TTP, an umbrella network of various armed groups, as &ldquo;khawarij,&rdquo; a term rooted in early Islamic history used to describe an extremist sect that rebelled against legitimate authority and declared other Muslims apostates. The BLA refers to the Balochistan Liberation Army, while FaH, Fitna al-Hindustan, is a term used by Islamabad to denote Indian-sponsored militants.&nbsp;According to the statement, these fighters have now &ldquo;established training camps in Afghanistan to launch terrorist activities in Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;More than being a matter of capability, it has become a matter of intent of Taliban regime,&rdquo; the spokesperson said. &ldquo;Empty hopes and hollow promises rendered by Taliban regime so far have already outlived their efficacy.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan said the Istanbul session was expected to finalize a monitoring mechanism agreed in an earlier round in Doha, but claimed Taliban representatives &ldquo;avoided taking any measures on ground and tried to back out of the commitments they had undertaken.&rdquo;&nbsp;It said Kabul&rsquo;s delegation &ldquo;prolonged discussions and engaged in futile arguments&rdquo; to avoid addressing Pakistan&rsquo;s core demand of verifiable action against militants. &ldquo;The Taliban regime was only interested in prolonging the temporary ceasefire,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Islamabad also rejected the Taliban&rsquo;s claim that terrorism in Pakistan is an internal issue. &ldquo;There are individuals in Afghanistan who have issued fatwas legitimizing terrorist attacks against Pakistan,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that several groups now operating inside Pakistan include &ldquo;a large number of Afghan nationals.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan further criticized attempts by the Taliban to frame wanted militants and their families as refugees. &ldquo;This is not a humanitarian or a refugees issue, but a ploy to frame terrorists as refugees,&rdquo; the spokesperson said.&nbsp;Islamabad reiterated it is prepared to receive Pakistani nationals from Afghanistan &ldquo;provided they are handed over at Torkham or Chaman, and not sent across with weapons.&rdquo;&nbsp;The statement stressed Pakistan prefers diplomacy but delivered a clear warning. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s Armed Forces and its people are well determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from its soil and take action against its supporters, abettors and financiers.&rdquo;&nbsp;While reaffirming its willingness to continue dialogue, Pakistan said its &ldquo;core concern, i.e. terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, needs to be addressed first and foremost.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Islamabad calls for Kabul to take concrete, verifiable action against TTP and BLA militants, warning ‘hollow promises’ have ended after Istanbul talks failed to progress.

Pakistan slams Afghan Taliban over failure to curb cross-border attacks

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hoping for a &ldquo;positive outcome&rdquo; in the next round of talks with the Afghan Taliban set for November 6, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Friday, while calling on Kabul to honor its security commitments and prevent cross-border terrorism.&nbsp;Briefing reporters in Islamabad, Andrabi confirmed the conclusion of four-day discussions in Istanbul between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, talks that were initially planned to last two days. He said Pakistan extended the negotiations &ldquo;in an effort to reach an amicable agreement.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding to a Pakistan TV Digital question on the difference in tone between his remarks and those of Pakistan&rsquo;s defense minister, Andrabi said, &ldquo;It is our professional hazard to be optimistic.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;I would call it guarded optimism,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have been engaged with the Taliban for four years.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult to be optimistic, but one must remain hopeful.&rdquo;&nbsp;A joint statement issued by T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar on Thursday noted that Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to a ceasefire mechanism along with a monitoring and verification framework intended to maintain peace and impose penalties for violations.&nbsp;Andrabi stressed that Pakistan had engaged &ldquo;positively&rdquo; without compromising its stance that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.&nbsp;He said Islamabad &ldquo;expects the Afghan Taliban regime to honor its commitments to the international community&rdquo; and take &ldquo;concrete and verifiable actions&rdquo; against terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to by Pakistani officials as &ldquo;Fitna al-Khwarij,&rdquo; and militants linked to India, described as &ldquo;Fitna Al-Hindustan.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said Pakistan had repeatedly provided Kabul with credible intelligence on the presence of these groups inside Afghanistan, yet cross-border attacks had increased in recent months.&nbsp;The spokesperson referred to &ldquo;unprovoked aggression&rdquo; along the border in October, warning that Pakistan would respond &ldquo;resolutely&rdquo; if such provocations continued.&nbsp;Despite tensions, Andrabi said Pakistan remains committed to a stable relationship with its western neighbor, adding that Islamabad has supported Afghanistan through transit trade concessions, elevated diplomatic ties to ambassador level, and agreed to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, he noted, has visited Kabul three times this year, including to sign the Joint Feasibility Study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Government and armed forces of Pakistan stand ready to take all possible measures to protect Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and ensure the safety and security of its people,&rdquo; Andrabi said, adding that Pakistan would continue to engage in mediation efforts.&nbsp;He thanked Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye for their &ldquo;constructive role.&rdquo;&nbsp;On GazaThe spokesperson said consultations on an international stabilization force for Gaza are ongoing among regional partners. Pakistan, he said, will continue working with Arab and Islamic countries to secure &ldquo;lasting peace&rdquo; and the Palestinians&rsquo; &ldquo;right to self-determination,&rdquo; while condemning renewed Israeli strikes as a &ldquo;flagrant&rdquo; violation of international law.&nbsp;On US sanctions waiver for India&nbsp;Regarding the US decision to allow India to operate Iran&rsquo;s Chabahar Port under a six-month sanctions waiver, Andrabi said Pakistan has &ldquo;taken note&rdquo; and &ldquo;welcomes any decision that leads to economic development in our brotherly country Iran,&rdquo; but cautioned that India must not &ldquo;abuse this opening to promote terrorism or subversion through adjacent borders.&rdquo;&nbsp;On US&ndash;India defense frameworkAndrabi described the recent US&ndash;India defense understanding as still under review, saying Islamabad is &ldquo;evaluating [it], particularly with reference to its impact on peace, security, and stability in South Asia,&rdquo; and would comment further at a later stage.&nbsp;Pakistan&ndash;EU migration dialogueThe spokesperson also discussed the third Pakistan&ndash;EU Migration and Mobility Dialogue held in Islamabad this week, in which both sides reviewed progress under the EU Readmission Agreement and Talent Partnership roadmap.&nbsp;He said both sides appreciated the &ldquo;growing level of cooperation&rdquo; and agreed to hold the next round in Brussels.

During a Foreign Office press briefing in Islamabad, Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi says Pakistan expects meaningful progress in upcoming talks with the Afghan Taliban, urging Kabul to fulfill counterterrorism commitments and prevent cross-border attacks.

Pakistan expresses ‘guarded optimism’ ahead of Nov. 6 Taliban talks

Saqib Tanveer

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban have committed to taking &ldquo;clear, verifiable, and effective action&rdquo; against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Pakistani sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;The announcement follows a five-day negotiation in Istanbul, where both sides agreed to extend the ceasefire.&nbsp;Official sources described the development as a key step toward regional peace and stability and an important milestone for international security.&nbsp;While the ceasefire will continue, Pakistani officials stressed that it is conditional on Afghanistan not being used as a launchpad for attacks against Pakistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;This outcome has been achieved through reasoned diplomacy, patience, and steadfast commitment to national interest, despite hurdles and accusations from adversaries,&rdquo; sources said.&nbsp;Afghanistan and Pakistan reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire during talks mediated by T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, according to a joint statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The talks aimed to consolidate the truce originally agreed upon in Doha on Oct. 18-19, with a principal-level meeting scheduled for Nov. 6 to finalize further implementation details. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983980512046985585&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6652bdd701f220ebc8bad8fec5974eead6ae7a79&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The Qatar foreign ministry also confirmed the development in a post later on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983996754577256826&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7c20b0e41c6bb8cfcc9ba92af1cf60b6569cb840&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The statement also confirmed that a joint monitoring and verification mechanism will be established to ensure compliance and impose penalties on violators. T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar, as mediators, praised the active participation of both sides and reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting efforts for lasting peace and stability.&nbsp;Reaffirming the agreement, Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the talks concluded with an understanding that both sides will continue future meetings to review the remaining issues.&nbsp;Mujahid emphasized that Kabul seeks positive relations with Pakistan based on mutual respect, non-interference, and avoidance of actions that could threaten either side.&nbsp;Speaking to SAMAA TV, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the outcome as a victory for Pakistan and thanked Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye for their mediation. He added that the responsibility now rests with the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s stance has been clear: support for terrorism must end. A mechanism for monitoring, verification, and enforcement in case of violations will also be implemented,&rdquo; he said.

In a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to continue their ceasefire, establish a joint monitoring mechanism, and finalize implementation details in a principal-level meeting on Nov. 6.

Afghanistan to take ‘clear, verifiable action’ against terrorists: sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has agreed to extend the ongoing dialogue process with Afghanistan in Istanbul following a request from the host country, T&uuml;rkiye, well-placed sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital on Thursday.&nbsp;The talks will resume at 2pm Pakistan Time, according to sources. &quot;It was decided to resume the dialogue process to give peace another chance,&quot; sources said. The talks will focus on Pakistan&rsquo;s central demand that Afghanistan take clear, verifiable and effective action against terrorists, the sources added. Pakistan has once again stressed that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against it. The sources appreciated the constructive role of the hosts and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution through dialogue in good faith. BackgroundThe four-day high-level security talks between the two South Asian nations in Istanbul had ended on Tuesday without an agreement after the Afghan delegation &ldquo;declined to accept verifiable measures&rdquo; against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan side did not sign the final draft despite multiple near-agreements,&rdquo; a senior security source added.&nbsp;Pakistan presented evidence and proposed enforcement steps to curb cross-border attacks, but Kabul &ldquo;avoided concrete commitments,&rdquo; another source said. Mediators from Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye facilitated the discussions. On Oct. 17, the two countries had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, and for a second round of talks in Istanbul.&nbsp; Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban leadership to act against the proscribed TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), saying both groups operate from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. Officials note that commitments made under the Doha Agreement have not been fully implemented.&nbsp;Earlier, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said Pakistan joined the Doha and Istanbul rounds &ldquo;to give peace a chance&rdquo; at the request of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye. However, he said, the Afghan side resorted to &ldquo;blame, deflection, and excuses,&rdquo; leaving the dialogue fruitless.

Security

At the request of the host country, Türkiye, the talks will resume at 2pm Pakistan Time, sources said.

Pakistan agrees to extend dialogue process with Afghan Taliban in Istanbul: sources

ISLAMABAD: High-level security talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul have reached a deadlock, according to Pakistani security officials directly involved in the negotiations. Mediators caution that the stalemate risks prolonging instability along the border and complicating counterterrorism cooperation in the region. &ldquo;The Istanbul talks therefore stalled because Afghan side refused to convert assurances into verifiable action,&rdquo; security sources said. &ldquo;Pakistan remains committed to a negotiated, peaceful solution, but Islamabad will not compromise on its core demand: the prevention of its territory being used as a launchpad for attacks.&rdquo; The mediators from Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye expressed concern that the Afghan side did not act on workable proposals that could have lowered tensions and stabilized the border situation. According to senior Pakistani security officials, discussions covered multiple agenda items, but progress halted when the Afghan delegation declined to commit to verifiable measures against groups allegedly operating from Afghan soil and conducting cross-border attacks. &ldquo;The Afghan side kept repeating that they &lsquo;understood the concern,&rsquo; but would not sign off on enforcement mechanisms,&rdquo; one Pakistani security official said. &ldquo;We cannot operate on trust alone when our personnel are being targeted.&rdquo; Talks amid rising violenceThe Istanbul negotiations come at a time of heightened militant activity in Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Security officials report that recent attacks in Central Kurram and Dera Ismail Khan have resulted in the martyrdom of at least 28 Pakistani security personnel, including senior officers. The current talks form part of an initiative led by Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye to stabilize the border following a temporary 48-hour truce announced on October 15, later extended during the Doha round of discussions. Repeated reversalsSecurity officials familiar with the discussions say three near-final draft agreements were reached during the Istanbul sessions, including one after negotiations lasting 18 consecutive hours. However, the process was hindered by what officials described as obstruction and defensiveness from the Afghan side. Some members of the Afghan delegation avoided direct answers and, at times, used dismissive language, sources said. The mediators, sources added, appeared taken aback by the Afghan approach and signaled surprise at what they viewed as a lack of constructive engagement. Detailed negotiations and deadlockParticipants say most agenda items were discussed thoroughly, but the core issue remained unresolved: verifiable action against groups using Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan delegation offered general assurances rather than enforceable commitments. One Pakistani security source said Pakistan presented time-stamped evidence of militant sanctuaries and cross-border movement. Instead of acknowledging the material, some Afghan representatives questioned its provenance and referred matters back to Kabul, slowing progress. When Pakistan requested action to restrain and dismantle groups responsible for attacks, the Afghan side responded that such groups were not entirely under their control. A position that surprised the mediators, according to officials present. Attempts at final agreementSources confirmed that on the night of October 27&ndash;28, after the third near-final draft agreement, the head of the Pakistani delegation, General Shahab Aslam, asked: &ldquo;In Islam it is said that anything committed three times is considered final. So is it now final from your side?&rdquo; According to those present, the Afghan side replied, &ldquo;Yes.&rdquo; However, before signing, the Afghan delegation stepped outside to contact Kabul and, upon returning, reversed their position once again. This reversal reportedly shocked those in the room, including the mediators, who said: &ldquo;Allah help and forgive these people.&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s position and outlookPakistan made clear that if hostile groups continue to operate from Afghan territory, Islamabad will take necessary measures to defend its people and sovereignty. The Afghan delegation, meanwhile, requested reciprocal guarantees regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s airspace and the actions of third countries. A request Pakistani officials said they could not commit to on behalf of others. Despite the setback, Pakistan has agreed, at the request of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye, to leave space for continued dialogue. Security officials say Pakistan&rsquo;s stance remains focused on a peaceful resolution grounded in verifiable commitments to prevent cross-border attacks.

Sources say Taliban avoided making concrete commitments, responded with vague assurances and procedural objections; diplomatic sources say mediators disappointed over Afghan delegation’s refusal to sign a mutually agreed draft.

Istanbul talks at impasse as Pakistan demands verifiable Afghan security action

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban are &ldquo;not ready&rdquo; to fully accept Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;logical and reasoned&rdquo; demands in the ongoing Istanbul talks, resulting in an impasse between the two sides, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital early Tuesday.&nbsp;The dialogue is taking place amid a surge in militant attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, including recent incidents in Central Kurram and Dera Ismail Khan, where at least 28 Pakistani security personnel, among them senior officers, were martyred.&nbsp;The Istanbul round is part of a broader diplomatic effort led by Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye to sustain the ceasefire and ease tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The initiative follows a temporary 48-hour truce announced on Oct. 15 and later extended during the Doha discussions.&nbsp;A security official familiar with the talks said the third day of negotiations had &ldquo;also suffered from difficulties.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan Taliban delegation has acknowledged that Pakistan&rsquo;s demands are reasonable. Even the host countries agree these demands are legitimate,&rdquo; the official said. &ldquo;However, the Afghan side is not ready to fully accept them.&rdquo;&nbsp;The official said that the delay stemmed from instructions coming directly from Kabul.&nbsp;&ldquo;The delegation repeatedly consults Kabul and is proceeding strictly according to their directives. It would be fair to say they are being controlled from Kabul,&rdquo; the official added.&nbsp;The source further said that resistance to progress may be coming from factions within the Afghan power structure.&nbsp;&ldquo;There has been no encouraging response so far. Some elements in Kabul appear to be working on another agenda,&rdquo; the official said.&nbsp;According to the source, both T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar have conveyed to the Afghan side that accepting the negotiated points would be in the interest of all parties involved.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s position remains logical, strong, and peaceful,&rdquo; the official concluded.

Security official says no encouraging response from the Kabul administration on Pakistan’s demands; creating a deadlock; says 'some elements in Kabul are working on another agenda.'

Afghan Taliban unwilling to accept Pakistan’s demands: sources

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations report has revealed that multiple terrorist groups continue to operate from Afghanistan, contradicting Taliban claims to the contrary. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent its territory from being used for terrorism. The latest talks in Istanbul between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban ended in a deadlock, as Pakistan insisted on &quot;no compromise&quot; on ending cross-border terrorism, which the latter kept denying. Pakistan has called for &quot;verifiable action&quot; against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which continues to launch attacks from Afghan soil. The United Nations has acknowledged that Afghan territory is being used by several terror outfits. A Security Council report from June 2025 highlighted that over two dozen terrorist groups operate in Afghanistan. The report warned that these groups posed a &quot;serious challenge&quot; to the stability of Afghanistan and the security of neighboring countries, including those in Central Asia. Taliban regime&rsquo;s support for TTP A subsequent UNSC report from July 24, 2025, further noted that Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime continued to maintain a &ldquo;permissive environment&rdquo; for various terrorist groups. The report confirmed that the TTP, estimated to have around 6,000 fighters, receives &quot;substantial logistical and operational support&quot; from the Taliban regime. Some within the Taliban reportedly advocate distancing themselves from the TTP to improve relations with neighboring states, though such calls have not led to any significant policy changes. TTP&rsquo;s cooperation with other militants to target Pakistan The TTP has coordinated with other militant groups to destabilize Pakistan. In January 2025, the TTP provided training to terrorists in Balochistan. The UNSC report details evidence of &quot;close coordination&quot; between the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in southern Afghanistan. Both groups are said to have shared training camps, with al-Qaeda providing &quot;ideological and weapons training.&quot; An attack by the BLA, the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train on March 11, resulted in over 30 deaths, demonstrating the group&#39;s increasing capacity for complex, deadly operations. While some experts believe the TTP and BLA do not cooperate at a &quot;strategic level,&quot; there may be a &quot;non-aggression pact&quot; between the two. Concerns over TTP&rsquo;s acquisition of high-grade weapons The acquisition of high-grade weaponry by the TTP, including NATO-standard arms, is particularly concerning. The UNSC noted that these weapons were obtained through &quot;cross-border smuggling and black-market trade,&quot; corroborating Pakistan&#39;s concerns. The TTP has also employed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out attacks on Pakistani military installations in Balochistan and Punjab, the reported stated. ISIL-K and al-Qaeda&#39;s growing presence The terrorist landscape extends beyond the TTP. According to the UNSC report, ISIL-K has been indoctrinating children in madrassas in northern Afghanistan, establishing a suicide training program for minors as young as 14. The group has spread across the northern and northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, with attempts to establish operations in neighboring states. al-Qaeda also maintains a strong presence in Afghanistan. The UNSC report raised concerns about al-Qaeda in South Asia, noting the group has expanded to six provinces, including Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Kunar, Uruzgan, and Zabul. The terror outfit operates several training sites across Afghanistan, even training TTP fighters. Threat to China The UNSC&#39;s July 2025 report further details how Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban regime has allowed groups like the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM/TIP) to operate within its borders. ETIM/TIP has reportedly grown to a force of up to 750 militants, with some regional states assessing its strength to be growing. In December 2024, ETIM/TIP leaders met with Taliban representatives in Kabul, discussing the flow of foreign terrorist fighters from Afghanistan. This cooperation signals the Taliban&#39;s ongoing support for foreign militant groups. Threats for entire region As long as the Afghan Taliban regime continues to permit the use of its soil by terrorist groups, the security of neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Iran, and even China, remains at risk.

Afghanistan

A UN report revealed multiple terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, with Taliban support for TTP and al-Qaeda, posing a growing threat to regional security, including China and Pakistan.

Articles tagged with "ISTANBUL TALKS"

Pakistan slams Afghan Taliban over failure to curb cross-border attacks

Pakistan expresses ‘guarded optimism’ ahead of Nov. 6 Taliban talks

Afghanistan to take ‘clear, verifiable action’ against terrorists: sources

Pakistan agrees to extend dialogue process with Afghan Taliban in Istanbul: sources

Istanbul talks at impasse as Pakistan demands verifiable Afghan security action

Afghan Taliban unwilling to accept Pakistan’s demands: sources

UN report: Terrorist groups operate from Afghan soil

Pakistan slams Afghan Taliban over failure to curb cross-border attacks