Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Recent security developments have reinforced Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing assessment that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban operate as a mutually reinforcing nexus, where pressure on one group is met with retaliation by the other. The pattern was again visible this week after Pakistan launched <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Ghazab lil Haq</a>&nbsp;in response to unprovoked cross-border attacks. As <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan struck Afghan Taliban targets</a> inside Afghanistan, TTP elements attempted to escalate violence inside Pakistan, including failed drone attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that TTP-linked terrorists attempted to launch drones in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, but said Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-drone systems intercepted all of them, preventing any loss of life. &ldquo;These <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-responds-afghan-border-fire" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">incidents have again exposed direct linkages</a> between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement. Terrorist groups&#39; messaging, released the same day, removed any remaining ambiguity. A TTP faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, publicly issued directives to its terrorist operatives across Pakistan to escalate attacks on security forces, portraying the violence as retaliation for Pakistan&rsquo;s military action against Afghan Taliban targets. The message openly described attacks inside Pakistan as an act of &ldquo;solidarity&rdquo; with the Afghan Taliban. An earlier internal directive attributed to TTP leadership went further, declaring that the &ldquo;Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stands with our mujahideen&rdquo; and ordering commanders to escalate attacks while amplifying propaganda through media channels. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistani officials</a> say this coordinated messaging reflects an operational reality that has persisted since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021: Afghan soil has increasingly been used as a safe haven for groups targeting Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that the return of the Taliban to power removed constraints on terrorist networks, enabling training, planning and cross-border attacks with impunity. Security sources argue the sequence is now predictable. When Pakistan confronts terrorist infrastructure inside Afghanistan, TTP cells activate inside Pakistan. When TTP strikes Pakistani targets, protection and facilitation trace back across the border. Pakistan says repeated diplomatic engagements have failed to alter this behavior and that the Afghan Taliban regime has neither acknowledged nor acted against the presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on its territory. As military operations and militant reprisals continue in parallel, Pakistani authorities say the distinction between the Afghan Taliban and TTP is no longer theoretical but operational. A shared ecosystem in which an attack on one triggers a response from the other.

Blogs

Pakistan says recent drone attempts, militant directives, and retaliatory strikes demonstrate a coordinated operational pattern, where pressure on the Afghan Taliban consistently triggers Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan attacks inside Pakistan, reinforcing concerns over cross-border safe havens.

TTP–Taliban nexus exposed as attacks and retaliation mirror each other

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Friday that <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-kills-274-afghan-taliban-affiliates-as-operation-ghazab-lil-haq-continues" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">297 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed</a> and more than 450 injured in retaliatory military strikes across Afghanistan, as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denounced the Kabul administration as an &ldquo;illegitimate regime&rdquo; following unprovoked attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a post on social media platform X, Tarar said the action was carried out under Operation Ghazb lil Haq and involved precision air and ground strikes on 29 locations inside Afghanistan. The information minister said 89 Taliban check posts were destroyed, 18 captured, and 135 tanks and armed vehicles eliminated during the operation.<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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; 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=2027449317087408548&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=485de7e742b2156c528f877ea42b0a2dc7039429&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2027449317087408548">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Earlier, while addressing a press briefing, Tarar said <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban regime</a> along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border was being and will continue to be responded to strongly and effectively. He described Pakistan&rsquo;s response as &ldquo;immediate and decisive,&rdquo; adding that Taliban fighters fled several positions, leaving behind weapons and bodies. The minister said the latest fighting further exposed what he called a direct&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" style="color:#0073e6;">nexus between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorist networks</a>&nbsp;targeting Pakistan. &ldquo;Afghan soil is being used for training, facilitation, and launching attacks that kill our civilians and security personnel,&rdquo; he said, referring to recent assaults on religious sites, judicial facilities, and Pakistani military officers. Tarar also launched a broad attack on the Taliban&rsquo;s governance, calling it &ldquo;a system based on repression and the perversion of religion.&rdquo; He quoted the government&rsquo;s position, saying, &ldquo;The activities of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable.&rdquo; He accused the Kabul authorities of ruling without legitimacy, denying fundamental rights and enforcing discriminatory laws against women, children, and minorities. &ldquo;This regime has nothing to do with Islam,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;It has imposed oppression on its own people and exported terrorism across the border.&rdquo; Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces remain on full alert and prepared to respond to any further aggression. &ldquo;Pakistan knows very well how to defend itself,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our response will remain strong, effective, and in defense of our sovereignty.&rdquo;

Security

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slams the Afghan Taliban regime as illegitimate and repressive, says cross-border attacks trigger decisive military action, confirms heavy Taliban losses and vows zero tolerance while defending sovereignty, citizens and security.

Pakistan says 297 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed at least 133 Afghan Taliban fighters and wounded more than 200 others in a large-scale retaliatory military operation after unprovoked cross-border firing, as Islamabad sharply escalated its response to open aggression along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border. The counteroffensive, formally named &ldquo;Operation Ghazab lil Haq&rdquo; (Wrath for the Truth), involves multiple waves of precision air and ground strikes targeting Taliban military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia, officials said early Friday. In an update posted on X at 3:45 am, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani counterstrikes inside Afghanistan were continuing and had inflicted &ldquo;heavy and decisive losses&rdquo; on Taliban forces. According to the minister, 27 Afghan Taliban posts have been destroyed and nine captured so far. He said the strikes eliminated two corps headquarters, three brigade headquarters, three battalion headquarters, and two sector headquarters, along with two ammunition depots and a logistics base. More than 80 tanks, artillery guns, and armored personnel carriers were also destroyed, Tarar said, calling the action Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;immediate and effective response&rdquo; to Taliban aggression. &ldquo;Unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban regime along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border is being and will continue to be responded to in a strong and effective manner,&rdquo; Tarar said earlier while speaking to Pakistan TV. He also slammed the Afghan Taliban regime for spreading false narratives after suffering battlefield losses, saying fabricated claims were being circulated through Afghan and Indian social media accounts to mislead the public. Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces, he said, remain unfazed by such propaganda and fully focused on defending national security. &lsquo;Open war&rsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the situation as having crossed a critical threshold, declaring what he termed an &ldquo;open war&rdquo; with the Taliban government. &ldquo;Our patience has reached its limit. Now it is open war between you and us,&rdquo; Asif said in a post on X on Friday.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pjkJ-enXwhY?si=xPa_g3MuH8XN1L8l" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned Taliban attempts to target civilian populations under the cover of darkness. &ldquo;The cowardly enemy struck at night and made a reprehensible attempt to target innocent civilians,&rdquo; Naqvi said. &ldquo;This aggression is intolerable. By launching this attack, the Afghan Taliban have made a grave mistake, and they will face serious consequences.&rdquo; Naqvi said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces were on high alert at all times and that the nation stood &ldquo;shoulder to shoulder&rdquo; with them. &ldquo;We will not allow any harm to come to our security,&rdquo; he said. The United Nations Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres urged both sides to protect civilians in accordance with international law and to seek a diplomatic path to de-escalation, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Meanwhile, Afghanistan&rsquo;s military released video footage showing military vehicles moving at night, accompanied by heavy gunfire. The footage could not be independently verified. Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been elevated for months, marked by deadly border clashes in October last year that killed dozens of soldiers, civilians, and Taliban fighters. Although a Qatari-mediated ceasefire largely held, sporadic exchanges of fire continued, and multiple rounds of peace talks in November failed to produce a formal agreement. Last Sunday, Pakistan also carried out strikes along the border, saying it had killed at least 70 terrorists involved in cross-border attacks. Prime minister&rsquo;s assurancePrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement issued early Friday, said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces are fully prepared to protect the country&rsquo;s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Under the leadership of Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the prime minister said, the armed forces are operating with high professionalism, advanced training, and effective defense strategies. &ldquo;There will be no compromise on the integrity of the homeland, and a prompt and effective response will be given to every aggression,&rdquo; Sharif said, adding that Pakistan has always promoted peace but will tolerate no threat to its borders or national security. Officials said Operation Ghazab lil Haq remains ongoing, with Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces maintaining a high state of readiness as the situation along the western border continues to evolve. As of 0800 hrs on 27 Feb. 2026, Pakistani forces destroyed an Afghan Taliban logistics base in Kandahar, followed by the demolition of the Taliban&rsquo;s command headquarters in the city at 0830 hrs, according to security sources.&nbsp; Meanwhile, in South Waziristan, Pakistan has taken control of five Afghan military posts in the Paktia region, raising the Pakistani flag over them.&nbsp; These posts are located opposite Shawal, Angoor Ada, and Zarmelan, with the Afghan terminal at Angoor Ada also being destroyed in the operation.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Asif declares open war on the Afghan Taliban following unprovoked border attacks, warning that the armed forces will respond immediately and decisively. Security forces target Taliban positions, inflicting heavy losses while remaining fully prepared to defend the homeland.

Pakistan kills 133 Taliban fighters in retaliatory Kabul, Kandahar strikes

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations Security Council report released this month has dismissed the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s claim that militant groups are not using Afghan territory for cross-border violence, calling the assertion &ldquo;not credible&rdquo; and warning that neighboring countries increasingly see Afghanistan as a source of regional insecurity due to ongoing operations by several armed groups based there.&nbsp;The findings are included in the 16th report of the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, submitted to the United Nations Security Council under resolution 2763.&nbsp;The report stated that the Afghan Taliban, who are the de facto rulers in Afghanistan, &ldquo;continue to maintain that no terrorist groups operate in, or from, its territory,&rdquo; but added that such claims &ldquo;are not credible.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Taliban promised under the 2020 Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan soil from being used to threaten other countries. While the report noted ongoing Taliban action against Islamic State Khorasan, it said their attitude toward other militant groups has been significantly different.&nbsp;According to the monitoring team, &ldquo;a wide range of Member States consistently report that ISIL-K, Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaida (QDe.004), the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (QDe.088), also known as the Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIM/TIP), Jamaat Ansarullah (not listed), Ittihad-ul Mujahideen Pakistan (not listed), and others are present in Afghanistan. Some groups have used or are continuing to use Afghanistan to plan and execute external attacks. Regional Member States generally see Afghanistan as a source of insecurity.&rdquo;&nbsp;The monitoring team stated that TTP had conducted &ldquo;numerous high-profile attacks in Pakistan from Afghan soil,&rdquo; leading to cross-border tensions, casualties, and disruptions in bilateral trade.&nbsp;&ldquo;These attacks have led to cross-border military confrontations, causing casualties as well as disruptions to bilateral trade,&rdquo; the report stated.&nbsp;&ldquo;Taliban authorities continue to deny and deflect responsibility for failing to restrain TTP,&rdquo; the report said, noting that opinions within the Taliban range from viewing the group as a liability to maintaining sympathy and historical loyalty.&nbsp;The Monitoring Team reported that attacks by TTP increased throughout 2025, noting that while Pakistani security forces thwarted many, estimates indicate there have already been more than 600 attacks in Pakistan this year. Many incidents were described as &ldquo;complex in nature, involving multiple, coordinated attackers using methods such as vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.&rdquo;&nbsp;The report estimated that &ldquo;TTP maintained a strength of around 6,000 fighters, with locations in the provinces of Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika, and Paktiya.&rdquo; It also included &ldquo;more than a dozen subgroups or factions,&rdquo; with the group&rsquo;s leadership maintaining a presence in Kabul.&nbsp;These attacks, the report said, have led to cross-border military clashes and disruptions to bilateral trade, increasing tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.&nbsp;Despite the broader militant presence in the region, the report acknowledged counterterrorism progress by Pakistan, including several high-profile arrests linked to Islamic State Khorasan, which it said has helped weaken the group&rsquo;s operational&nbsp;ability.

Screengrab from a video showing Afghan Taliban fighters patrolling the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Spin Boldak following fresh clashes between the two countries on October 15, 2025. (AFP)

Middle East

Americas

A United Nations Security Council report released this month has rejected the Afghan Taliban’s claim that militant groups are not using Afghan territory for cross-border violence, calling the assertion 'not credible' and warning that neighboring states increasingly view Afghanistan as a source of regional insecurity due to continued operations by several armed groups based there.

UNSC report questions Taliban claims of denying militant safe havens

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

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

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will carry out military strikes inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts if ongoing talks in Istanbul fail to produce written guarantees preventing cross‑border attacks, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan TV Digital in a wide‑ranging interview on Thursday.&nbsp;&ldquo;If we do not receive any arrangement or any agreement or any assurance from the other side that there&rsquo;ll be no incursions into our territory sponsored by Kabul, then obviously the only option we are left with is that we&rsquo;ll cross into their territory and bomb the hideouts of [the Tehreek‑e‑Taliban Pakistan],&rdquo; the minister said.&nbsp;Asif said four days of negotiations in Istanbul ended without a conclusion because the Afghan delegation offered only &ldquo;verbal guarantees but refused to commit in writing.&rdquo; He described the Afghan stance as &ldquo;stubbornness&rdquo; and said Pakistan could not accept assurances that were not formalized.&nbsp;&ldquo;We did not reach anywhere on this particular demand,&rdquo; he said, adding that the earlier preliminary accord reached in Doha, which took 11 hours to draft, left implementation mechanisms to be decided in later talks. T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar acted as mediators in the process, and Pakistan has sought their backing and monitoring for any new arrangement.&nbsp;After the Istanbul talks nearly collapsed this week, Turkish mediators persuaded the Pakistani delegation to give the process another chance.&nbsp;&ldquo;My optimism will be very, very guarded,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I won&rsquo;t pin unnecessary hopes on what is going on in Istanbul.&rdquo;&nbsp;Kabul sheltering TTPReiterating Islamabad&rsquo;s long-standing concern, Asif says the TTP is &ldquo;based mainly in Afghanistan&rdquo; and receives support from elements within the Kabul regime. &ldquo;They deny it publicly, but admit it privately,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Pakistan, he added, has repeatedly reported attacks on soldiers and checkposts that it says originate from Afghan soil.&nbsp;&lsquo;We will not be threatened&rsquo;&nbsp;Responding to reports in Taliban‑linked and Afghan media of possible attacks on Islamabad, the defense minister said he would &ldquo;not speculate&rdquo; but made clear Pakistan would not be intimidated. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t budge or get pressurized by their threats. We are ready to face anything,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&ldquo;They&rsquo;ll pay a very heavy price for anything they are doing now or they intend to do in the future.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trade and smuggling concernsAsif highlighted the long‑term humanitarian burden Pakistan has borne, saying the country has hosted &ldquo;close to four million Afghan refugees&rdquo; for the past four to five decades. He said Afghanistan has shown &ldquo;absolutely no regard or respect for what Pakistan has done for Afghanistan over the decades.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister also raised concerns about the misuse of transit‑trade facilities.&nbsp;&ldquo;This sort of facility is being misused for decades by Afghans and perhaps in collusion with some Pakistani businessmen,&rdquo; he said, adding trucks and containers bound for Kabul are often offloaded on Pakistani soil and diverted into local markets.&nbsp;On the economic impact of a breakdown in ties, Asif said Pakistan could &ldquo;survive&rdquo; without transit trade, but warned the loss would be more painful for land‑locked Afghanistan.&nbsp;He reiterated his support for enhanced regional connectivity, linking Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, saying such ties could &ldquo;change the economic map of this particular region&rdquo; if Afghanistan embraces intra‑regional trade.&nbsp;Tri-service drills in IndiaTurning to wider regional tensions, Asif said Pakistan was monitoring Indian tri‑service exercises in the Sir Creek area near the Arabian Sea. While he called military drills &ldquo;routine,&rdquo; he warned that the current peace with India remains &ldquo;very tense&rdquo; and fragile.&nbsp;&ldquo;If there is some incursion or some provocation from the Indian side, it will be responded in kind and responded well,&rdquo; he said.

In a wide-ranging interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif discusses Istanbul talks, trade with Afghanistan, and tri-service drills in India.

Pakistan warns of strikes unless Kabul provides written anti-TTP assurances

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani delegation in Istanbul has presented its final position to the Afghan Taliban, emphasizing that continued patronage of terrorists is unacceptable, security sources said on Sunday. &ldquo;The ongoing support and shelter for terrorists by the Taliban is not acceptable,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani security official said. &ldquo;Concrete and verifiable steps will have to be taken by the Taliban regime to eliminate cross-border terrorism from and inside Afghanistan.&rdquo; Security sources said the demands presented by Pakistan were clear, evidence-based, and formulated to address the core issue directly. They added that Pakistan conveyed there would be no compromise on its central security concerns. According to the sources, the Pakistani side provided intelligence showing the presence and operations of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Afghanistan, including safe havens and leadership protection. &ldquo;The Taliban were urged to take decisive action against these groups and end the provision of safe havens,&rdquo; a security source stated. However, the sources said the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s arguments were &ldquo;illogical and contrary to observable ground realities,&rdquo; raising questions about their approach. &ldquo;It seems that the Taliban are following someone else&rsquo;s agenda,&rdquo; a security official said. &ldquo;This agenda is not in the interest of Afghanistan, Pakistan, or the broader region.&rdquo; Security sources also indicated that the Taliban delegation&rsquo;s &ldquo;stubbornness, lack of seriousness, and non-cooperation&rdquo; had become clear to all parties involved, including the host country. The host government is continuing to make efforts to ensure the Afghan side understands the evidence and engages responsibly. &ldquo;Further progress depends on the Taliban adopting a positive and constructive attitude,&rdquo; the sources noted. The current talks in Istanbul follow a meeting held in Doha last week, where both sides agreed to a ceasefire after several days of cross-border clashes. According to intelligence sources, the Istanbul discussions lasted about nine hours and sought to move toward a verifiable mechanism to prevent militant movement, reaffirm mutual respect for territorial sovereignty, and address related matters involving trade, refugee repatriation, and the separation of bilateral issues from internal political pressures. The talks are taking place amid a recent surge in militant incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including attacks in Central Kurram and Dera Ismail Khan, in which at least 28 Pakistani security personnel, including senior officers, were martyred. In response, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Pakistan would send a delegation to Kabul, citing what he described as &ldquo;unbearable&rdquo; security conditions. The Istanbul round forms part of a wider effort led by Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye to preserve the ceasefire and reduce tensions along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan frontier. The process follows a temporary 48-hour truce declared on October 15 and extended during the Doha talks. Security sources stressed that the responsibility for meaningful progress now lies with the Afghan Taliban. &ldquo;What happens next will determine the stability of the region,&rdquo; a senior Pakistani official said.

Security sources say Taliban’s arguments in Istanbul talks are illogical, contrary to ground realities, and suggest Kabul may be pursuing an agenda not aligned with regional stability. Further progress depends on Taliban’s positive engagement, officials add.

Istanbul talks: Pakistan demands concrete Taliban action to stop cross-border terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces foiled coordinated infiltration attempts by two groups of militants attempting to cross from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, killing 25 militants, including four suicide bombers, the military said on Sunday.&nbsp;In a statement, the military&#39;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the movements of the infiltrating groups were detected on October 24-25 in the Ghaki area of Kurram District and in Spinwam, North Waziristan District, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.&nbsp;The statement said 15 &quot;khawarij&quot;, including four suicide bombers belonging to the Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij, were killed in Spinwam, while another ten were killed in Ghaki.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;khawarij&rdquo; for members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking a historical label for an extremist sect in early Islam that rejected legitimate authority and declared other Muslims to be apostates. A large quantity of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the militants.&nbsp;ISPR confirmed that five Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred during the exchange of fire. The fallen were identified as Havildar Manzoor Hussain, 35, from Ghizar; Sepoy Nauman Ilyas Kiyani, 23, from Poonch; Sepoy Muhammad Adil, 24, from Kasur; Sepoy Shah Jehan, 25, from Vehari; and Sepoy Ali Asghar, 25, from Pakpattan.&nbsp;The statement said the soldiers &ldquo;fought gallantly and paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending the nation.&rdquo;&nbsp;The military noted that the infiltration attempts came as Pakistani and Afghan delegations are engaged in talks in T&uuml;rkiye, saying the timing &ldquo;casts doubt on the intentions of the interim Afghan government regarding the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to ensure effective border management and fulfill commitments under the Doha Agreement, including preventing the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.&nbsp;ISPR reaffirmed that Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces &ldquo;remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation&rsquo;s frontiers,&rdquo; adding that the sacrifices of the martyred soldiers &ldquo;further strengthen our resolve.&rdquo;&nbsp;A sanitization operation is currently underway in the area, and the military said the counterterrorism campaign under the&nbsp;Azm-e-Istehkam framework, approved by the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan, will continue with full determination to eliminate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country.

A statement released by Pakistan’s military media wing notes the infiltration comes amid ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Türkiye, raising concerns about Kabul’s current commitment to curb cross-border militancy and prevent TTP operations.

Pakistan kills 25 militants in Afghan-border infiltration attempt: military

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office on Friday responded to the Afghan government&rsquo;s announcement of plans to construct a dam on the Kunar River, stating that &ldquo;transboundary rivers are governed by international law.&rdquo; The Kunar River originates in Afghanistan and flows into the Kabul River. According to policy research studies in Islamabad, the Kabul River is significant for Pakistan, supplying irrigation water, drinking water, and hydroelectric power. Earlier, Afghanistan&rsquo;s Energy and Water Minister Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor was quoted in a post shared on the X account of the Afghan Information Deputy Minister Muhajer Farahi. In the post, Mansoor said, &ldquo;Afghans have the right to manage their own water,&rdquo; and added that the Afghan government had decided to begin the &ldquo;construction of dams on the Kunar River as soon as possible and to sign contracts with domestic companies and not wait for foreign companies.&rdquo; Responding to questions at a press briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan was reviewing the situation. &ldquo;We are ascertaining the details,&rdquo; he stated, adding that, &ldquo;generally, transboundary rivers are governed by international law.&rdquo; He further noted that Pakistan is &ldquo;both an upper and lower riparian,&rdquo; and said the matter would continue to be monitored.

Remarks follow Afghanistan’s announcement to build dams on the Kunar River. Islamabad says transboundary waters are governed by international law, noting Pakistan is both an upper and lower riparian and will closely follow the matter.


Articles tagged with "Pakistan Afghanistan Border"

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

Pakistan warns of strikes unless Kabul provides written anti-TTP assurances

Istanbul talks: Pakistan demands concrete Taliban action to stop cross-border terrorism

Pakistan kills 25 militants in Afghan-border infiltration attempt: military

Kunar River should be governed by international law, Islamabad tells Kabul

TTP–Taliban nexus exposed as attacks and retaliation mirror each other