Khawaja Asif says trusting Afghan Taliban no longer an option

Pakistan has publicly written off the Afghan Taliban, with Defence Minister Khawaja Asif describing the group as a “ragtag force” and warning that the country no longer expects constructive cooperation from Kabul.

Asif said Pakistan’s patience with the Taliban had run out after years of failed engagement. “It would be folly to trust them. We have tried to remain civil, but they have not respected the soil that has hosted generations of their people,” he said.

The remarks follow a suicide attack on Monday at the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary in Peshawar, which left three officers dead and 11 others injured. Pakistani authorities have linked the plot to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Noor Wali Mehsud, who reportedly planned the attack from Afghan soil.

Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has faced a surge in terrorist activity. Despite repeated appeals, the Afghan regime has not acted decisively against militants using Afghanistan as a base for cross-border operations. Security forces in Pakistan have conducted targeted operations, reportedly killing several Afghan nationals involved in terrorism.

Relations between the two neighbours deteriorated sharply in October, when Taliban fighters and TTP militants attacked Pakistani posts, killing nearly two dozen soldiers. Pakistan retaliated with major operations, and a ceasefire brokered in Doha ended hostilities temporarily. However, negotiations collapsed after Kabul failed to provide a written commitment to curb militant activity.

Asif also stressed that regional peace would benefit not only Pakistan but neighbouring countries, including Turkey, China, and Qatar. “If the terrorism factory ends and Afghan people are allowed to earn a living, it will benefit everyone. But the Taliban continue to act against their own people,” he said.

The minister dismissed claims by the Taliban that Pakistan carried out strikes against civilians in Afghanistan, calling the accusations “baseless.” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reinforced this, stating Pakistan only retaliates under strict military protocols and never targets civilians.

Comparing the two forces, Asif highlighted the professionalism of Pakistan’s military against what he called the Taliban’s lack of discipline and structure. “They have no code of conduct or genuine religious basis. We hoped for engagement, but now we expect nothing from them,” he added.

Meanwhile, Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed Pakistani attacks in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika provinces killed 10 people, a statement rejected outright by Pakistani authorities.