Pakistan Demands Written Taliban Guarantee to Stop Cross-Border Attacks

Pakistan’s efforts to restore stability in its strained relationship with the Taliban hinge on receiving a written guarantee from the group to halt cross-border attacks. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the commitment must be backed by regional powers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, China, and Qatar. The Taliban, he said, should clearly assure that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan.

In an interview with Pakistan’s Express Tribune newspaper on Saturday, November 14, Asif dismissed the Taliban’s claims that Afghan territory is not being used to threaten Pakistan, citing evidence that he claims disproves these assertions. He said that indications from two recent attacks inside Pakistan, particularly the Wanah assault, showed they originated from Afghanistan, with no Pakistani involvement detected.

Referring to repeated warnings issued by Islamabad, the minister called for an official guarantee to end all terrorist activities emanating from Afghan territory. “If terrorism is indeed not originating from your soil, then provide a written assurance that it never will. This is not an unreasonable demand,” he stressed.

Asif described the situation in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan as “critical,” labeling the government there a “failed state.” He claimed that national institutions have collapsed, the economy has stalled, and there is no effective judicial or administrative structure. According to Asif, this environment has turned Afghanistan into a safe haven for extremist networks, including foreign militants.

He specifically highlighted the presence of these groups under the “Kandahar umbrella,” noting that such networks shift their targets depending on conditions, sometimes focusing on countries like Russia and Pakistan. Emphasizing the fragile security landscape, Asif stated that the Afghan-Pakistani border can no longer be managed informally and called for the full enforcement of border protocols.

The minister also warned that economic engagement with Afghanistan must not compromise Pakistan’s security, suggesting that reduced trade can help curb smuggling, including the illegal transfer of U.S. dollars. Responding to recent remarks by Taliban deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar on trade ties, Asif said limiting economic relations is in Pakistan’s national interest.

Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have significantly deteriorated following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad that killed 12 people. Pakistan’s tone toward the Taliban has since hardened. According to Asif, the shift of violence from border areas to the capital sent a clear message from Kabul to Islamabad, and Pakistan is fully capable of responding.

Three recent rounds of negotiations between Pakistani officials and the Taliban, held in Qatar and Turkey, ended without consensus. Pakistan demanded that the Taliban take action to curb violence and prevent Afghan territory from being used against it. The Taliban refused, insisting that insecurity within Pakistan is an internal matter.

Ties between the two sides have now sharply worsened, with trade and transit routes between the countries closed for over a month. Islamabad continues to accuse the Taliban of harboring Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group it claims orchestrates attacks from Afghan soil. The Taliban, however, have dismissed these accusations as baseless.