Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan has ruled out unconditional talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities. It says any dialogue must be backed by verifiable action to stop terrorist attacks launched from Afghan soil.
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan set out the position on Thursday at the ministry’s weekly media briefing. He said Islamabad was not avoiding dialogue, including with Afghan representatives. He added that Pakistan would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to address its security concerns and support regional peace.
However, he said talks could not move ahead without concrete steps against militant groups operating from Afghanistan. He accused the Taliban authorities of taking one step forward and one step back on the issue, which Pakistan has raised at several forums.
The briefing also touched on Russia’s role. Moscow formally recognised the Taliban government in 2025 and has indicated it could help facilitate a settlement if both sides request its involvement. Asked whether Pakistan would welcome such mediation, Khan rejected the suggestion that Islamabad was unwilling to engage.
He said he was not aware of any separate, formal Russian mediation initiative under discussion. He described Moscow as an important regional stakeholder and said Pakistan valued its engagement with Russia on Afghanistan and regional security. Any effort, he added, should be meaningful and produce tangible progress.
Russian officials renewed their offer after the latest Moscow Format consultations on October 5, which ended without a joint communiqué. Pakistan was represented at the meeting by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, its special representative for Afghanistan, and Ambassador Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, its ambassador to Afghanistan.
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The spokesperson said the missing communiqué reflected persistent differences over terrorism. In his account, Afghanistan did not accept wording on terrorist networks on its territory that had been acceptable until last year. He said this showed reluctance to accept that such activity originates from Afghan soil. Contacts between the two countries are continuing at the special representative level.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban authorities to act against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups it accuses of using Afghan territory to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Khan said progress would ultimately depend on action on the ground by the Taliban authorities against these groups.
Khan said, “Pakistan has only one demand, a verifiable mechanism to end terrorist activities from Afghan soil.”
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
