ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Wednesday said that Pakistan would maintain its current policy towards Afghanistan unless the Afghan Taliban abandon what he termed a “guerrilla mindset.”
Speaking on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath,” the minister said the Taliban leadership’s attitude towards Pakistan was markedly different from its engagement with other countries.
His remarks came after a series of deadly suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu, which Pakistani authorities linked to militant elements operating from Afghan soil. In response, Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes overnight into Sunday in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province and Paktika Province.
According to officials, the strikes targeted seven camps and hideouts allegedly used by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), its affiliates and Islamic State – Khorasan Province along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Chaudhry said Pakistan had repeatedly urged Kabul to ensure that its territory was not used by terrorist organisations to launch attacks against Pakistan. He described the prevailing situation as the result of what he called an “irresponsible neighbour.”
“A state, as they call themselves, has yet to move beyond a guerrilla mindset. We tried to change their behaviour through dialogue,” he said, adding that Pakistan now expected practical steps to see Afghanistan act as a responsible state.
Referring to the Taliban’s supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, the minister said that while religious edicts were frequently issued on social matters, there was silence over attacks targeting Pakistani mosques, imambargahs, markets and schoolchildren.
He said dialogue remained the preferred solution, but warned that Pakistan’s current approach would continue if the pattern persisted. “If the matter is not resolved through dialogue, it will be dealt with through a hardline approach,” he added.
Following Pakistan’s strikes, Afghan Taliban forces resorted to what officials described as unprovoked firing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border earlier this week in the Torkham and Tirah sub-sectors of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said Pakistan’s security forces responded effectively, silencing the Afghan side. The spokesperson warned that any further provocation would be met with an immediate and severe response, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to protect its citizens and safeguard its territorial integrity.