Pakistan Cautiously Welcomes Taliban’s Ban on Foreign Combat but Seeks Clarity

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has cautiously welcomed the Taliban Council of Scholars’ decision to prohibit Afghans from joining foreign wars. However, it emphasized that Islamabad will wait to see concrete actions from the Taliban, as the resolution does not specifically mention Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Taliban have previously failed to fulfill their verbal commitments.

Taliban Had Promised Written Assurances; Andarabi: TTP Not Mentioned

In a press briefing, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry responded cautiously to the Taliban’s religious scholars’ decision, which stated that no Afghan has the right to fight abroad.

Ambiguity in the Resolution and Waiting for Action

Taher Andarabi, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, confirmed that Islamabad has asked the Taliban, during negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkey, to provide a written assurance from their leader.

Andarabi noted that there are ambiguities within the resolution, as it does not mention the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which leads Pakistan to wait and see what actions will follow.

He reiterated that the Taliban had made similar verbal commitments in the past but failed to act on them.

Negotiations and Fatwa Required by Pakistan

Yesterday, hundreds of religious scholars from various provinces of Afghanistan gathered in Kabul and declared that no Afghan is allowed to participate in wars outside of Afghanistan.

They also announced that fighting against anyone who violates Afghanistan’s territory is considered a holy jihad.

While the Taliban’s resolution does not name Pakistan, reports indicate that during recent meetings between Taliban representatives and the Pakistani government in Doha, Istanbul, and Riyadh, the Pakistani side insisted that the Taliban of Afghanistan should issue a fatwa declaring that fighting in Pakistan is unlawful to prevent logistical and moral support for TTP from Afghan soil.