Pakistan Closes Afghanistan Border Indefinitely Over Terrorism Concerns

Pakistani officials announced that the country’s border crossings with Afghanistan will remain closed indefinitely until the Taliban take verifiable and irreversible actions against terrorist groups, especially Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)…

Increased pressure to act against terrorism

Pakistani officials have stated that the border crossings with Afghanistan will remain closed indefinitely until the Taliban government takes verifiable and irreversible actions against terrorist groups, particularly Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). This decision is part of Islamabad’s strategic policy to increase pressure on Kabul to deal with elements that Pakistan considers a threat.

Pakistani officials told the Express Tribune that without decisive and practical action from the Taliban against anti-Pakistan elements on Afghan soil, the resumption of trade and economic activities between the two countries will not be possible.

Trade paralysis and Islamabad’s hard stance

The closure of borders has severe consequences for the region’s economy; thousands of trucks and containers are stranded on both sides of the border, paralyzing bilateral trade and regional transit routes. Currently, only human traffic, such as the return of Afghan refugees, is permitted.

Tahir Hussain Andrabi, spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, emphasized that Islamabad will not compromise on the issue of terrorism. He pointed to recent attacks in Islamabad and Wana, stressing that these incidents remind us of a serious threat coming from Afghan soil, and the Taliban must take this reality seriously.

This move by Pakistan, which prioritizes security over trade and the economy, is part of the country’s hardening stance following the collapse of several recent negotiation attempts in Qatar and Turkey.

Rejection of claims by the Taliban

Relations between Pakistan and the Taliban have been severely strained in recent months. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Pakistan has repeatedly warned of terrorist threats from Afghan soil.

In response, Taliban officials have repeatedly denied Pakistan’s claims, stating that security issues are related to internal problems within Pakistan and that the Islamabad government is shifting blame. Nevertheless, Pakistan now insists that the reopening of the borders will only be possible after decisive action from the Taliban against the TTP and other anti-Pakistan armed groups.