In a key diplomatic breakthrough, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has confirmed that the Afghan Taliban have begun responding positively to Islamabad’s concerns regarding the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Afghanistan offering a cautious sign of improvement in ties between the two neighbors after years of tension.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the issue of TTP sanctuaries remains a major obstacle in bilateral relations. “There is active engagement on this matter, and the Afghan side is taking our concerns seriously,” he noted.
The presence of TTP militants on Afghan soil has been a persistent source of friction since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021. Pakistan has accused the Taliban regime of providing shelter to thousands of TTP fighters, who are believed to be behind a surge in cross-border attacks targeting Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire with the TTP in November 2022, Pakistan saw a sharp escalation in violence. Officials estimate that between 3,000 to 4,000 TTP militants remain active in Afghanistan, a presence Islamabad says is tolerated if not encouraged by the Taliban’s ideological affinity and silence. Kabul has consistently denied these claims, but recent developments point toward a shift in posture.
Diplomatic engagement has intensified since the April 19 visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul, where key issues including trade, border management, and security cooperation were discussed. The visit, supported by China’s quiet diplomacy, was described by Pakistani officials as a “strategic thaw” in an otherwise frigid relationship.
“The return of high-level dialogue — including the upgrade of diplomatic representation from chargé d’affaires to ambassador shows both countries are now willing to move past deadlock and address longstanding issues,” said the spokesperson.
Further momentum came this week when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Kabul and met with Afghan Interior Minister Siraj-ud-Din Haqqani. Discussions focused on border security, the TTP threat, drug trafficking, and the return of undocumented Afghan nationals.
According to Pakistani officials, the Taliban administration has agreed in principle to gradually disarm and relocate TTP fighters away from the border a rare signal of recognition that Islamabad’s concerns are being acknowledged.
“Technical-level talks are ongoing, both sides are constructively engaged, and this evolving security cooperation should be seen in the wider context of improving ties between the two brotherly countries,” Khan said.
He added that progress is also being made on trade-related issues, including logistics, customs, and procedural matters. “The momentum is visible, and there are encouraging signs on the commercial front as well,” she said.
Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is expected to visit Islamabad in the coming weeks for continued dialogue on security and regional cooperation.
