Pakistan Warns of Tougher Action Unless Taliban Abandons ‘Guerrilla Mindset’
By Tahir Shah :
Pakistan will maintain its current policy toward Afghanistan unless the Taliban leadership sheds what a senior minister described as a “guerrilla mindset” and begins acting as a responsible state actor, a cabinet minister warned Wednesday.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry expressed frustration with the Taliban’s approach, noting that the group’s engagement with Pakistan differs markedly from its dealings with the rest of the international community. He blamed the deteriorating security situation on what he termed an “irresponsible state” across the border.
Speaking on a private television programme, Chaudhry said Pakistan had initially pursued dialogue as the preferred path to resolve differences but would now adopt “practical steps” to encourage behavioural change in Kabul.
“The preferred path is dialogue, but if the current pattern continues, the existing policy will remain in place,” the minister stated, warning that a tougher approach could follow if necessary.
Cross-Border Tensions Escalate
The minister’s remarks come just days after Pakistan carried out intelligence-based strikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, targeting alleged hideouts of banned militant groups operating along the porous border.
According to security sources, multiple camps associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh-Khorasan were hit in the operation. The cross-border action followed a wave of deadly suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur, and Bannu, which Pakistani officials have linked to militants using Afghan soil for planning and launching operations.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent its territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan, but tensions have escalated significantly in recent weeks.
Leadership Criticised
Chaudhry specifically criticised Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for remaining silent on attacks inside Pakistan while continuing to issue religious decrees on other matters. This perceived double standard has fuelled frustration in Islamabad.
The minister noted that Pakistan is determined to eliminate security threats and made clear that the country’s existing policy toward Afghanistan will continue unless the Taliban leadership abandons what he described as a guerrilla mindset and begins functioning as a responsible state actor.
Border Clashes Reported
Following the reported airstrikes, Afghan forces allegedly opened fire in the Torkham and Tirah sectors along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistani security officials said their response was immediate and effective, adding that any further provocation would be met with a strong reaction.
The border region has long been a flashpoint, with both sides accusing each other of violating territorial integrity. The latest exchanges underscore the fragility of relations between the two neighbours, despite Pakistan’s historical ties with the Taliban and its role in facilitating past peace processes.
Analysts suggest the current trajectory points toward continued friction unless the Taliban leadership takes concrete steps to address Pakistan’s core security concerns regarding militant sanctuaries on Afghan soil.
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