Pakistan warns policy won’t shift until Taliban drop “guerrilla mindset”
“Talal Chaudhry says Islamabad will not alter its Afghanistan policy unless the Taliban abandon what Pakistan calls a “guerrilla mindset.” He cited recent suicide attacks linked to Afghan soil, Pakistan’s subsequent strikes, and warned border provocations would draw a firm response.”
Key points
- Talal Chaudhry says Islamabad will not alter its Afghanistan policy unless the Taliban abandon what Pakistan calls a “guerrilla mindset.” He cited recent suicide attacks linked to Afghan soil, Pakistan’s subsequent strikes, and warned border provocations would draw a firm response.
Pakistan will stick with its existing approach toward Afghanistan unless the Afghan Taliban change what Islamabad describes as a continuing “guerrilla mindset,” Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said.
Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,” Chaudhry said the Taliban leadership’s posture toward Pakistan differs from how it engages the wider international community. He argued that the worsening situation stems from what he called an irresponsible neighbour and an irresponsible state.
Chaudhry’s remarks came after a series of suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu that Pakistani officials linked to militants operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan subsequently carried out overnight strikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, saying the action targeted seven camps and hideouts associated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its affiliates, and Daesh-Khorasan along the border belt.
The minister said Pakistan had attempted dialogue to influence Taliban behaviour but now wants “practical steps” to push Kabul toward acting like a conventional state. He added that while the Taliban leadership can issue multiple religious decrees on certain matters, it remains silent when attacks occur on Pakistani mosques, imambargahs, markets, women or schoolchildren.
Chaudhry said Islamabad still sees dialogue as the preferable route, but warned that if the Taliban’s approach does not change, Pakistan’s current pattern of response will continue. He said the state intends to prevail and suggested a tougher line could follow if the issue is not resolved through straightforward means.
After the strikes, Pakistan said Afghan forces opened fire without provocation along the border in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A spokesperson for the prime minister said Pakistan’s security forces responded immediately and effectively, and warned that any further provocation would be met promptly and severely as Islamabad maintains its resolve to protect citizens and territorial integrity.
Corrections & clarifications
Spot an inaccuracy or need more detail? Email connect@newsnexus24.com. Significant updates are timestamped above.
