PESHAWAR: A senior Pakistani security official has said that the Afghan Taliban leadership is fully aware of Islamabad’s concerns and must take “verifiable steps” if it wants a ceasefire or meaningful dialogue with Pakistan.
Relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have sharply deteriorated in the four years since the group returned to power in Kabul. On Feb 22, Pakistan carried out overnight strikes on suspected militant hideouts in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. The Afghan Taliban subsequently launched attacks along the border, prompting Pakistan to begin Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on Feb 26.
Speaking to journalists from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a briefing at the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) headquarters, the official said the Taliban leadership clearly understood Pakistan’s demands.
“If they want dialogue or a ceasefire, they must take verifiable steps,” the official said, adding that Pakistan had no desire to attack any country but remained committed to protecting its security.
He noted that the Pakistan-Afghanistan border was effectively being guarded only from Pakistan’s side, while militants were allegedly being sheltered and supported in areas across the border.
“Terrorist elements are being provided refuge in border regions and facilitated from the other side,” the official said.
Referring to ongoing operations, he maintained that Pakistan had shown “utmost responsibility” by limiting strikes to militant infrastructure and avoiding civilian targets.
“No civilian population has been targeted in any operation carried out by Pakistan,” he said, adding that actions were confined to terrorist camps and military installations where militants were allegedly receiving weapons, resources and technical support.
The official recalled that following border clashes in October, three countries had helped mediate efforts to ease tensions. According to him, those countries reviewed evidence provided by Pakistan and acknowledged the validity of Islamabad’s concerns, though no tangible change had yet been observed from the Afghan Taliban side.
He also alleged that a nexus between terrorism and crime existed in Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban authorities of harbouring several militant organisations and acting as their “master proxy”.
According to the official, Pakistan initially targeted camps belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). In response, he said, Afghan Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani border posts established to prevent militant infiltration.
Operations aimed at dismantling militant networks inside Pakistan were also continuing, he added.
However, the official stressed that eliminating terrorism required a unified national stance. He said the National Action Plan was designed to address not only terrorism but also extremism and crime within society.
He warned that weaknesses in internal security systems and governance could further embolden militant groups.
Pakistan, he said, had no interventionist agenda regarding Afghanistan’s internal politics.
“Our only clear stance is that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he said.
The official added that military operations would continue until their objectives were achieved, noting that the Afghan Taliban were currently protecting banned militant groups, including the TTP.
He also claimed that Pakistani forces had destroyed 36 militant posts inside Afghanistan that were allegedly used to launch attacks on Pakistan.
Discussing the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the official said the provincial government was aware of the threat and remained serious about counterterrorism efforts.
He further said that recent strikes on Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base targeted weapons and ammunition allegedly used against Pakistan.
Regarding the Tirah Valley in KP, he said there was no need for a full-scale military operation as security forces had already targeted militant bases responsible for attacks.
A day earlier, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Asim Munir also stated that lasting peace between Pakistan and Afghanistan would only be possible if the Taliban regime renounced support for terrorist groups.