Pakistan has urged the Taliban to take practical and verifiable steps to combat terrorism, warning that militant groups operating from Afghan soil pose a serious threat to Pakistan’s national security.
The call was made on Monday during talks between a visiting Taliban delegation and Pakistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Afghanistan and West Asia. The delegation was led by Noor Ahmad Noor, head of the First Political Directorate at the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry.
In a separate statement delivered the same day at the United Nations General Assembly session on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s ambassador said Afghan territory remains a base for terrorist groups, noting that an estimated 6,000 fighters from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continue to operate against Pakistan from within Afghanistan.
The Taliban had previously pledged to assist in curbing cross-border attacks during Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul in April. However, Pakistani officials have voiced concern over the Taliban’s lack of follow-through on those commitments.
Following the bilateral talks in Islamabad, Taliban officials also met with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, Amna Baloch.
According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussions included security matters, regional economic cooperation, and the ongoing deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan.
The Pakistani side noted that efforts are being made to streamline legal travel for Afghan nationals. Over the past year, Pakistan has issued more than 500,000 visas to Afghan citizens, the statement said.
The two sides also discussed regional connectivity initiatives, expressing hope that the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway project would be finalised soon.
