Pakistan demands verifiable action against militants for Afghan talks

Pakistan has stated that any future dialogue with the Taliban must be conditional upon verifiable actions to stop militant groups from operating within Afghan territory. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan emphasized that while Islamabad is not avoiding negotiations, engagement must address the country’s security concerns and contribute to regional stability.

Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated significantly. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, while Kabul has consistently denied these allegations. Conversely, the Taliban’s ambassador to Russia, Gul Hassan Hassan, has accused Pakistan of providing a favorable environment for drug traffickers and ISIS.

Despite previous mediation attempts by Qatar, Türkiye, and China, recent discussions have struggled to reach lasting agreements. Russia has recently renewed an offer to facilitate a settlement between the two nations, though Pakistan noted it is not currently aware of any formal Russian mediation initiative under active discussion.