ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday cautiously welcomed a declaration issued by more than 1,000 Afghan Ulema in Kabul, noting that its effectiveness will depend on written assurances from the Afghan Taliban leadership, something Islamabad has repeatedly sought but has yet to receive.
Addressing his weekly news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad had taken “positive note” of the Kabul Gathering’s five-point joint statement, which warned that anyone conducting “military operations outside Afghanistan’s borders” would be considered an act of rebellion and punished for disobeying the emir’s orders.
The statement, widely seen as the strongest internal religious support against cross-border terrorism, did not mention Pakistan by name but appeared to target groups such as the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“If sections of the Afghan society realize the seriousness of the matter that their land is being used not only by TTP, FAK and FAH but also by their own nationals to commit terrorism against Pakistan, such realization is positive and welcome,” Andrabi said.
However, he quickly added that Pakistan would “wait, watch and evaluate” the document. “Previous commitments by the Afghan Taliban regime have not been fulfilled. This is exactly why Pakistan, even during mediated negotiations, insisted on written assurances.”
The nuanced response underscores Islamabad’s deep frustration with Kabul following a series of deadly attacks inside Pakistan traced to groups operating from Afghan soil. Officials say privately they believe only a formal decree from the Taliban’s top leader could carry the authority needed to crack down on militant networks with long-standing ties to the Afghan Taliban.
The State Department also addressed the latest friction over humanitarian aid corridors. Pakistan recently opened border crossings to allow aid convoys into Afghanistan, but the Afghan Taliban administration publicly rejected the move and threatened to block bilateral trade.
Andrabi called Kabul’s stance “unprecedented” for a country facing dire economic and humanitarian conditions.
“From our end, the relief convoy has been cleared,” he said. “Whether or not the Afghan Taliban regime wants to receive this humanitarian aid is up to them. It would be unprecedented for a state in need of aid to refuse it.”
Pakistan, he stressed, remains willing to facilitate aid “as part of our affinity and concern for the brotherly people of Afghanistan”.
The cautious tone reflects what Pakistani officials describe as a growing gap between the Taliban’s public commitments and actions on the ground. Islamabad has repeatedly conveyed that cross-border attacks including the November 11 attack in Islamabad and the November 24 attack on an FC camp in Peshawar are unacceptable.
While Thursday’s briefing did not detail new measures, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan will continue to seek firm, written guarantees that Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources say Islamabad views the Ulema Council’s declaration as a potentially important shift because it signals internal religious pressure in Afghanistan against militant adventurism.
But they also warn that previous commitments, including the Taliban’s previous promise that Afghan soil would not be used against other states, have not been translated into concrete action.
Asked about US lawmakers expressing concern over rights issues in Pakistan, Andrabi said Islamabad maintains open communication with Congress and that Pakistan’s position is “fully explained” through diplomatic channels.
He also confirmed that Pakistan welcomes the US announcement of a $686 million support package for its F-16 fleet, calling it part of regular defense cooperation.
