The issue of terrorism against Pakistan from Afghan soil is no longer merely a border dispute between two neighboring countries but has become intertwined with regional peace, international security, and the balance of power in South Asia. Pakistan has continuously tried to make the Afghan Taliban government realize that the activities of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups from Afghan soil are a grave threat to Pakistan’s security. However, the Afghan Taliban have never accepted this and have dismissed it as Pakistan’s internal issue, even though reports of the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team have expressed concern over the presence and activities of multiple terrorist organizations, including TTP, in Afghanistan.
The root cause of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan is this very disagreement, and Pakistan’s stance is that despite diplomatic protests, high-level meetings, and negotiations, the Afghan Taliban have failed to take effective and verifiable action against TTP. On the other hand, the Taliban government brands Pakistan’s cross-border attacks a violation of its sovereignty, even though Pakistan has full authority to act against terrorism. The intensification of airstrikes and border clashes between the two countries in September 2026 underscores that diplomatic efforts have so far failed to provide a permanent solution.
The heaviest toll of this situation is being borne by the Afghan people, who are already grappling with problems such as poverty, unemployment, food shortages, and lack of basic facilities. Despite humanitarian activities by the United Nations and global aid organizations, Afghanistan’s economic difficulties persist. The Afghan Taliban’s policies regarding women’s education, employment, and civil liberties have also strained relations with the international community. Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades and has historical, religious, and cultural ties with the Afghan people. However, ordinary Afghan citizens should not suffer the consequences of the Taliban government’s policies and disagreements over terrorism.
The presence of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan is not merely Pakistan’s claim but, according to the United Nations monitoring team’s 2026 reports, TTP is among the largest terrorist groups active in Afghanistan, while the presence of organizations including Al-Qaeda also remains a cause for concern for regional security. The UN reports have also flagged that Taliban authorities have taken action against ISIS-Khorasan, but TTP’s activities continue to pose a threat to Pakistan. These findings further underscore the responsibility of the Afghan Taliban government to prevent its soil from being used for terrorism against any country.
Pakistan’s stance is also noteworthy: India could use its growing diplomatic ties with the Afghan Taliban for its regional interests, though the Afghan Taliban may not realize this and could unintentionally fall into India’s clutches. Pakistan has also accused TTP and other militant groups of receiving external financial and practical support, in which the heinous role of India’s intelligence agency RAW cannot be ignored.
In Pakistan-India relations, the Kashmir issue is a fundamental dispute that has fueled tension between the two countries for decades. India’s current government’s policies regarding Pakistan and the continuous mistrust between the two countries have hampered the negotiation process. In such circumstances, India’s growing diplomatic ties in Afghanistan could deepen Pakistan’s strategic concerns. However, instead of making Afghanistan a field of competition among regional powers, stabilizing it as a sovereign and peaceful state is in the interest of all concerned countries.
On the other hand, Pakistan has suffered heavy human and financial losses in counter-terrorism operations. The killings of security personnel, police, and ordinary citizens underscore the gravity of this issue. Pakistan has also sought to resolve problems through negotiations with the Afghan Taliban and mediation by friendly countries, in which the diplomatic roles of Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China are noteworthy. However, despite all these efforts, the recent border tensions show that mere stopgap ceasefires are not a permanent solution until practical measures are taken to stop the activities of terrorist groups.
The Afghan Taliban must honor their international obligations under the Doha Agreement and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2593. Resolution 2593, adopted on August 30, 2021, demands that Afghan soil not be used to threaten or attack any other country and that support for terrorist groups be stopped. Pakistan’s demand also echoes this international principle that no country should allow its soil to be used for terrorism against other countries.
Pakistan has the right to protect its national security, but during cross-border military operations, the protection of civilian populations and adherence to international humanitarian law are also imperative. Regarding recent airstrikes, Afghan authorities have alleged civilian casualties, which can also be probed, while Pakistan has clarified that security forces’ actions were limited to terrorist hideouts. It is necessary that the Afghan Taliban resolve their differences with Pakistan through diplomatic means, take verifiable action against all terrorist organizations including TTP, and prevent their soil from being used against any country. Alongside Pakistan, Afghanistan’s stability is important for Pakistan’s security, trade relations with Central Asia, and the economic development of the entire region. It is also necessary that, to pull the Afghan people out of global isolation and economic difficulties, humanitarian aid continues, terrorism is eliminated, political differences are set aside, and fraternal relations are made the foundation of lasting peace.
