By Zubair
Lahore
Pakistan's Foreign Office has issued a formal stern warning to the Afghan Taliban government, stressing that Kabul's continued failure to take verifiable and effective action against banned militant groups using Afghan territory for cross-border attacks against Pakistan will carry serious consequences for bilateral ties and regional stability.
The warning, conveyed through diplomatic channels and confirmed in a Foreign Office statement on Monday, represents an escalation in Islamabad's direct messaging to Kabul as attacks by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan soil have continued to mount in Pakistan's northwest and tribal regions.
Islamabad Demands Verifiable Action Against TTP
Pakistan's Foreign Office stated that Kabul must take concrete, verifiable steps to prevent the TTP and associated banned groups from using Afghan territory as a base to plan, finance, and launch cross-border terrorist operations into Pakistani territory. Islamabad stressed that the Afghan Taliban's public assurances have not translated into observable action on the ground.
The Foreign Office warned that bilateral ties and regional security cooperation cannot be sustained on the current trajectory if Kabul continues to provide, or tacitly permit, safe havens to militant organizations that openly carry out attacks against Pakistani civilians and security forces.
Escalating TTP Attacks Driving Pressure
Pakistan has been conducting a series of precision counterterrorism operations in its border regions, targeting TTP hideouts and infiltration routes. The military has repeatedly stated that senior TTP commanders directing attacks on Pakistani soil are based inside Afghanistan.
The foreign policy warning comes amid the federal government's imposition of emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a move partially justified through the allegation that the ousted PTI provincial government had failed to cooperate with counterterrorism operations against TTP-linked networks operating within KP.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations Under Strain
Relations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban administration have deteriorated steadily since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. Pakistan had initially hoped its historically close ties with the Afghan Taliban would translate into meaningful cooperation on curbing the TTP. Instead, bilateral friction has intensified, with Pakistan conducting cross-border strikes into Afghan territory on multiple occasions over the past two years, drawing protests from Kabul.
The Foreign Office indicated that all appropriate options remain on the table if the security situation does not measurably improve, though officials refrained from specifying the nature of potential measures.
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