Pakistan Urges Taliban for Written Assurance on Border Security

Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, has stated that in light of increasing border tensions and terrorist attacks, the Taliban must provide a written commitment not to use Afghan territory against Pakistan. He emphasized that this agreement should be guaranteed by friendly countries in the region. Asif argued that Afghanistan’s internal situation is dire, contradicting the Taliban’s claims of controlling terrorism.

Call for an International Commitment from the Taliban

In an interview with Express News’ Center Stage, Khawaja Muhammad Asif reiterated Islamabad’s firm demands for the interim Taliban government, following a recent uptick in border tensions and terrorist threats on Pakistani soil.

He stressed the necessity for the Taliban to provide an official written commitment ensuring that Afghan soil will never be used against Pakistan. Importantly, he noted that this commitment must be backed by guarantees from regional allies.

Asif pointed out that the Taliban’s declarations about not using Afghan territory contradict the ground realities, providing evidence that contradicts their assertions.

Proposal for Regional Consensus

Asif maintained that Islamabad has consistently communicated its message to Kabul, stating that terrorism should not originate from their territory. “If this is not the case now, provide guarantees that it will never happen,” he asserted, calling this demand completely fair.

He further proposed that key regional and Islamic nations, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, China, and Qatar, should be involved as guarantors of this commitment. This proposal is indicative of Pakistan’s efforts to establish a consensus and exert regional pressure on the Taliban.

Afghanistan as a Safe Haven for Armed Groups

The Minister alleged that both recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan are directly linked to Afghanistan.

Khawaja Asif characterized the internal situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule as unfavorable, asserting that the country has become a safe haven for armed groups. He attributed this condition to the collapse of state institutions, economic crises, and the ineffectiveness of the judicial system and rule of law in Afghanistan, which has created a fertile ground for armed movements.

In another part of his remarks, the Minister emphasized the necessity of managing the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as a formal international boundary. He mentioned that better border control could help reduce attacks and also aid in preventing smuggling and illegal currency flow.

These comments come amid heightened tensions between Kabul and Islamabad in recent months, with the third round of talks between the two sides in Istanbul ending without a clear outcome. The Taliban have repeatedly dismissed Pakistan’s claims regarding the presence and activities of anti-Pakistani armed groups on Afghan soil.