Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan warned on Sunday that it would treat the Afghan Taliban regime as an enemy if it continues to provide shelter and support to terrorist outfits such as the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
“TTP/FaK [Fitna al-Khawarij] and BLA/FaH [Fitna al-Hindustan] are declared enemies of the state of Pakistan and its people. Anyone who harbors, supports or finances them is not considered a friend and well-wisher of Pakistan and its people,” the State Department said in a strongly worded statement.
The declaration followed the conclusion of the third round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks held in Istanbul on November 7 under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar. The Foreign Office said Pakistan “highly appreciates” the sincere efforts of the two fraternal nations to bridge the gap between Islamabad and Kabul
over “the core issue of terrorism originating on Afghan soil.”
In the past four years, since the Taliban’s return to power in Kabul, Pakistan has witnessed a sharp increase in terrorist attacks originating in Afghanistan. Despite suffering both military and civilian casualties, the State Department noted that Pakistan had “exercised maximum restraint and did not retaliate”, hoping that the Taliban regime would eventually control these groups.
However, the statement expressed disappointment that despite Pakistan’s goodwill gestures, including trade concessions, humanitarian aid and easing of educational and medical visas, the Taliban’s response remained “hollow promises and inaction.”
“Instead of acting on the core expectation of Pakistan, i.e. not allowing Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan, the Taliban regime has always tried to shy away from taking concrete and verifiable actions,” the statement added.
Islamabad accused the Taliban government of deliberately obfuscating the core issue of terrorism by raising “irrelevant and hypothetical” concerns to circumvent its commitments.
The State Department said Pakistan’s response in October 2025 to consistent cross-border attacks was a reflection of its resolve that it will “leave no stone unturned to protect its territory and people.”
While reaffirming its support for peace and diplomacy, Pakistan made it clear that “the use of force remains the last resort.” The country agreed to participate in the talks brokered by Turkiye and Qatar “to give peace every possible chance.”
According to the statement, during the first round of talks in Doha, both sides reached an understanding on the principles of cooperation and responsibility, after which Pakistan agreed to a temporary ceasefire. The second round in Istanbul aimed to devise a mechanism to implement these measures, but the Taliban side “avoided taking steps on the ground and went back on its commitments.”
During the third round, Pakistan once again tried to focus on creating an effective monitoring mechanism, but the Afghan side “tried to dilute the focus on terrorism and extend the ceasefire without taking verifiable actions against TTP and BLA militants.”
The State Department said the Taliban regime is “trying to misrepresent the issue of Pakistani terrorists hiding in Afghanistan as a humanitarian issue.” It recalled that after Pakistan’s Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2015, TTP militants fled to Afghanistan, helped the Taliban in their fight against ISAF forces and were now protected “as repayment.” These militants, it added, have established training camps to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Islamabad has demanded their handover, but the Taliban regime “has repeatedly refused to do so”, citing a lack of control. “More than a matter of capacity, it has become a matter of intent,” the State Department said, warning that “empty hopes and hollow promises have outlived their effectiveness.”
“This is not a humanitarian issue or a refugee issue, but a ploy to portray terrorists as refugees,” the statement clarified, adding that Pakistan was ready to receive any Pakistani living in Afghanistan, “provided they are handed over at border crossings and not ambushed fully armed.”
Pakistan maintained that it has “never shied away from dialogue with any government in Kabul,” but made it clear that it “would not engage in dialogue with any terrorist group.”
The State Department said that while some within the Taliban “do not want confrontation with Pakistan”, there exists a “powerful lobby, with monetary support from foreign actors, whose mission is to create tension” by defaming Pakistan. These elements, it said, are “eroding the goodwill they once had in Pakistan.”
The statement also rejected Taliban propaganda about divisions in Pakistan over Afghan politics. “There is absolute clarity among the people of Pakistan that the nation stands united with its armed forces to protect its interests and people,” it said.
Echoing Pakistan’s position, the statement warned that the Taliban regime “cannot deny the sharp increase in terrorism emanating from Afghanistan” since August 2021. It also criticized attempts to “instigate Pashtun nationalism in Pakistan”, recalling that “more Pashtuns live in Pakistan than in Afghanistan” and are well integrated into the state’s social and political structures.
“Instead of fomenting Pashtunism in Pakistan, the Taliban regime would be wise to examine its own evidence of inclusivity,” the State Department added.
The statement concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peace, but stressed that “terrorism emanating from Afghanistan must be dealt with first and foremost.”
“Mandated by the Parliament and the Constitution, the Armed Forces of Pakistan have made countless sacrifices in the war on terror and will continue to do so with the full support of the people of Pakistan,” the Foreign Office said.
