Pak-Afghan ties see thaw as Taliban target TTP elements

The Taliban-led Afghan government has begun targeting extremist factions threatening Pakistan, offering fresh hope for stability and renewed cooperation between Kabul and Islamabad

SOUTH ASIA

May 26, 2025

IN a significant shift, the Taliban authorities in Kabul have initiated a crackdown on groups encouraging Afghan citizens to participate in cross-border militancy — a move regarded as a major diplomatic relief for Islamabad, especially as tensions with India remain at an all-time low.

While public discourse over the last month was dominated by the escalating friction between Pakistan and India, developments on the western front saw Islamabad and Kabul discreetly working to mend their strained ties. A major source of discord has been the continued presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant organisations operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan has long urged the Afghan Taliban to act decisively against these threats, but until recently, those appeals had gone largely unanswered. That changed in March when a high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq Khan, visited Kabul.

During the visit, Afghan officials presented evidence of measures taken to curb cross-border militant activity. It was the first time, since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, that Islamabad felt Kabul was taking its concerns seriously.

According to a report published in the Express Tribune newspaper, the Pakistani team — which included representatives from military and intelligence agencies — came away convinced of Kabul’s new commitment to curbing militant activity.

Though details were initially withheld, it has since emerged that the Taliban regime began arresting Afghan nationals who had joined or were attempting to join the TTP. Several individuals, especially those involved in recruitment, were reportedly detained and face legal proceedings.

In recent months, Afghan involvement in TTP-orchestrated attacks in Pakistan had grown, sparking alarm in Islamabad. In response, Pakistan lodged strong protests and submitted concrete evidence of Afghan participation to Kabul. This eventually prompted the Afghan Taliban to act, leading to a noticeable decline in suicide bombings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a modest improvement in bilateral relations.

These developments culminated in a landmark visit by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul on 19 April — the first such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister in three years. During his trip, both sides agreed on a series of commitments, including renewed assurances from Kabul that Afghan territory would not be used to launch attacks on Pakistan. In return, Islamabad relaxed several trade-related conditions, such as waiving bank guarantee requirements for Afghan importers.

The turning point

Kabul’s credibility with Islamabad was significantly bolstered when Afghan authorities detained individuals responsible for aiding over 70 militants — most of them Afghan nationals — who attempted to infiltrate Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident. All were intercepted and neutralised by Pakistani forces near North Waziristan in what turned out to be the largest single-day anti-terror operation since Pakistan’s post-9/11 campaign began.

Despite these advances, Pakistani officials caution that more enduring steps are needed. “This is a constructive beginning. We hope the Taliban government continues along this path,” said one official, speaking anonymously.

Diplomatic insiders suggest that China played a discreet but influential role in encouraging both Kabul and Islamabad to keep dialogue channels open and resolve disputes through peaceful means.