Pakistan rejects Taliban's dialogue overture, demands dismantling of terrorist sanctuaries operating from Afghan territory after Kohat attack.
Pakistan dismissed the Afghan Taliban’s call for closer ties on Saturday, saying Islamabad would not tolerate what it called a facade of engagement masking continued militant threats. The rebuke came after a Taliban spokesman invited dialogue and proposed Saudi mediation, but Pakistan linked the overture to a deadly terrorist attack in Kohat and insisted the regime dismantle armed groups operating from its soil.
- ▪Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had proposed intelligence-sharing mechanisms and welcomed Saudi Arabia as a mediator between Kabul and Islamabad in an Al Arabiya interview.
- ▪Pakistan’s information ministry rejected the offer, saying it would not accept ‘pretence of dialogue’ that shields those attacking Pakistani citizens.
- ▪Taliban warned Pakistan against cross-border military operations, invoking Article 51 and threatening a ‘crushing response’ to any Afghan sovereignty violation.
- ▪Pakistan linked Taliban’s dialogue push to Friday’s terrorist attack on worshippers and police in Kohat, calling attackers ‘roots in Afghanistan.’
- ▪Islamabad reiterated it has ‘will and capability’ to eliminate terrorist threats and will take necessary measures under international law to protect its territory.
- ▪Pakistan said Afghan Taliban must dismantle terrorist sanctuaries and recruitment networks instead of ‘deflecting responsibility’ for cross-border attacks.
- ▪Taliban denied TTP and other militant groups operate from or are supported by Afghanistan, a claim Pakistan flatly rejected.
- ▪Pakistan cited Taliban’s obligations under the 2020 Doha Agreement to prevent Afghan territory being used to threaten neighboring countries.
- ▪While noting Kabul’s condolences for Kohat victims, Pakistan said the Afghan statement failed to mention terrorism and demanded ‘credible, verifiable’ action against militant networks.
Source: according to media reports
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