ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban are ready to provide a written assurance to Pakistan that Afghan soil will not be used for terrorist attacks against the neighbouring country, their ambassador in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said in an interview with an Indian media outlet.
Suhail Shaheen said that many efforts were made to hold talks with Pakistan, but they did not yield any results. “A written assurance can be given to Pakistan that no harm will come to that country from Afghan soil,” the Taliban envoy said in an interview with an Indian media outlet as quoted by TOLOnews.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban regime to take decisive action against terrorist groups to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terror attacks inside Pakistan.
However, the Afghan Taliban have so far shown reluctance to act against the banned terrorist groups.
According to reports by the United Nations, the Afghan Taliban continue to provide support and sanctuary to banned terrorist organisations involved in cross-border attacks.
Taliban envoy Suhail Shaheen said that a written assurance can be given to Pakistan that no terrorist attack will come to that country from Afghan soil.
Analysts Question Taliban Commitment
Commenting on the offer by Suhail Shaheen, Pakistan’s former foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said in a television programme on Aaj News that Islamabad had pursued diplomacy and dialogue for over four years since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021 following the Doha Agreement.
However, he said the Taliban had repeatedly failed to honour commitments made to Pakistan. He added that these assurances were given in the presence of mediators, including Qatar and Türkiye, but were not fulfilled.
Chaudhry said Pakistan should consider giving the Afghan Taliban another opportunity if their leadership shows readiness to address the country’s security concerns.
He also stressed the need for a national consensus on policy towards the Taliban, noting that terrorist violence over the past four years had resulted in significant loss of Pakistani lives.
Meanwhile, Air Commodore (retired) Khalid Chishti said talks could not move forward in a meaningful way unless the Afghan Taliban provide firm assurances on Pakistan’s security concerns and take action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
In recent months, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks by banned terrorist groups based in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s counter terrorism operation
On February 27, Pakistan launched counter terrorism Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Taliban regime following its “unprovoked aggression”.
Pakistani security forces have carried out coordinated and precise air and ground strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan following the unprovoked cross-border aggression.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Ataullah Tarar on Wednesday provided an update on the operation against the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al Khawarij losses.
Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the minister, 707 Taliban terrorists had been killed and more than 938 had been injured so far. He said that 255 posts had been destroyed and 44 posts had been captured.
He said that 237 tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery guns had been destroyed, adding that 81 terrorists and terrorist support infrastructure locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted by air.
Pakistan pauses operation during Eid
Later, Information Minister Tarar announced that Pakistan has decided on a “temporary pause” in the ongoing counter terrorism operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban and terrorists in view of Eid ul Fitr and at the “request of brotherly Islamic countries”.
The information minister made the announcement in a post on the social media platform X.
In his post, the information minister said, “In view of the upcoming Islamic festival of Eidul Fitr, upon its own initiative as well as on the request from the brotherly Islamic countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye, the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has decided to announce temporary pause amidst ongoing Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the terrorists and their support infrastructure in Afghanistan.”
Tarar said the pause would be applicable from “midnight March 18/19 to midnight March 23/24”.
“Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with the Islamic norms,” he said.
“However, in case of any cross-border attack, drone attack or any terrorist incident inside Pakistan, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq shall immediately resume with renewed intensity,” he warned.
Shortly after the minister’s announcement, the Afghan Taliban also announced a temporary suspension of its attacks against Pakistan.
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reiterated that the decision was made in response to requests from brotherly Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Qatar.
