Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan on Thursday said the Afghan Taliban are beginning to show a more “receptive” attitude toward Islamabad’s longstanding concerns about the presence of banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) elements in Afghanistan, an issue that has fueled tensions between the two neighbours for years.
“There is active engagement between the two sides. The Afghan authorities are showing a degree of understanding regarding our concerns, particularly those related to terrorist sanctuaries,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said during a weekly press briefing.
The presence of TTP fighters across the border has remained a key sticking point since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021. Islamabad has repeatedly alleged that thousands of TTP militants are operating from Afghan soil, with many responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Tensions escalated further after a ceasefire between Pakistan and the TTP broke down in late 2022. Officials in Islamabad estimate that 3,000 to 4,000 militants are currently based in Afghanistan, a claim the Taliban administration has routinely denied.
Despite these challenges, signs of progress have emerged in recent months. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s April visit to Kabul helped ease the frost, with both sides agreeing to work more closely on trade, security, and border management. That visit was reportedly encouraged by Beijing and led to what officials described as a “tactical thaw” in ties.
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Another diplomatic step was taken last weekend when Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Kabul alongside Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq. He met with Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, where the focus was on cross-border security, repatriation of refugees, drug control, and the lingering TTP threat.
According to Pakistani officials, the Taliban side agreed “in principle” to begin a phased relocation and disarmament of TTP fighters from areas near the border, an indication that Kabul may be acknowledging the problem more openly.
“The technical-level talks are continuing,” FO spokesperson Khan said. “There’s a broader sense of positivity in the relationship, and cooperation in the security domain is part of that.”
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He also noted progress on trade, explaining that both sides were working to resolve issues related to customs, logistics, and procedural delays. “There’s momentum building, and trade matters are improving,” he said.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is also expected in Islamabad in the coming weeks for follow-up discussions on these developments.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
