- Tarar says the Taliban regime is fractured and he cannot blame Pakistan.
- Joint framework to involve third parties, says minister.
- The next round of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan will begin on November 6.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that the responsibility now falls on Kabul to act against militants using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan following the establishment of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism involving third parties.
His statements came after Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry issued a joint statement stating that Islamabad and Kabul agreed to maintain the ceasefire, as well as decided to establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace and punish any violators.
The understanding was reached during the recent talks, held in Istanbul from October 25 to 30 under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar, and concluded with both countries pledging continued cooperation for lasting peace and stability in the region.
speaking in Geographic news On the “Naya Pakistan” programme, Tarar praised Turkiye and Qatar for mediating the dialogue and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s civil and military leaders are “on the same page” with full unity of thought and action.
He reiterated that Pakistan remains steadfast in its principled demands, including an end to terrorism, prevention of cross-border attacks and respect for the sanctity of borders, adding that Afghan territory should not be used for attacks against Pakistan.
Tarar lashed out at the “propaganda war” waged by the Afghan Taliban regime, describing it as a fractured administration that “does not control all of Afghanistan” and therefore cannot accuse Pakistan of creating instability.
The minister said that Kabul will have the responsibility to act against Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan operating from its territory.
Regarding the joint framework, he said the finer operational details will be worked out during the next round of discussions between senior officials of both sides in Istanbul on November 6.
“This agreement eliminates any justification for the Taliban administration to avoid acting against the militants,” he emphasized, adding that they would be punished if they do not act.
He added that the new framework would give Islamabad an additional platform to present evidence and intelligence on violations, strengthening Pakistan’s diplomatic and security position.
To a question about Afghanistan’s claim that Pakistan rejected Kabul’s offer to hand over terror suspects, Tarar questioned why the Taliban regime was distorting facts and complicating the situation after talks.
He clarified that Islamabad had earlier demanded that Kabul must monitor or arrest any terrorist who poses a threat to Pakistan. He added that Islamabad immediately proposed that they be delivered through designated border crossings, in line with its long-standing position.
Islamabad-Kabul tensions
Pakistan has been grappling with a rise in terrorist incidents, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban regime took power in 2021.
The government in Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to rein in terrorist groups responsible for countless attacks in Pakistan.
However, the Taliban regime remained largely indifferent to Pakistan’s demands and provided shelter to multiple terrorist groups that attacked security forces and civilians.
Instead of addressing Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism, the Taliban regime resorted to unprovoked firing along the border on October 12.
The Pakistani Armed Forces quickly retaliated and killed more than 200 Taliban fighters and affiliated militants; However, as many as 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred during the border clashes.
Security forces also carried out attacks inside Afghanistan, including in Kabul, destroying terrorist hideouts in the country.
Hostilities between the two nations’ forces ceased after Pakistan accepted the Taliban regime’s request for a temporary ceasefire on October 17.
Delegations from the two countries later met for Qatar-brokered talks in Doha, where they agreed to a ceasefire agreement.
Turkiye then hosted the second round of talks in Istanbul, which began on October 25 and continued until October 31.
The two sides would meet again in the next round scheduled for November 6.
