KEY POINTS
- Russia offers mediation between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban to defuse border tensions.
- Pakistan seeks action against Afghan-based terrorists involved in recent terror attacks inside Pakistan.
- Interior Minister Naqvi urged the Taliban to take decisive action against terrorists operating from Afghan soil.
- Pakistani officials warn their patience is running out as cross-border attacks undermine security and stability.
MOSCOW: Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to end the ongoing tensions as Islamabad presses Kabul to halt cross-border terrorist attacks carried out from Afghan territory.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, emphasised that stability in the region is a top priority. She warned that escalating border tensions pose a threat not only to the two nations but also to the wider international community.
Zakharova urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to exercise restraint, stressing that negotiations remain the only sustainable solution. She noted that both countries are important partners and highlighted Moscow’s readiness to facilitate dialogue.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have previously engaged in three rounds of talks mediated by Qatar and Turkiye. The Doha negotiations led to a temporary ceasefire, but subsequent meetings in Istanbul failed to achieve significant progress as the Taliban failed to provide assurance to take tangible action against terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan’s territory.
In addition to Russia, other regional powers have expressed concern. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that a high-level delegation would be sent to Pakistan to help de-escalate tensions. Similarly, Iran’s Foreign Minister offered mediation after discussing the issue with his Pakistani counterpart.
The latest offer from Russia adds another dimension to the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions between the two neighbours.
On Wednesday, the Russian foreign ministry said on Telegram that Moscow and Tehran exchanged views with Pakistan on the need for continued talks to resolve the dispute.
Pakistan demands action on cross-border terrorism
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday urged the interim Afghan Taliban government to crack down on terrorists he says are launching attacks from Afghan soil.
Naqvi made the remarks after a visit to Cadet College Wana in South Waziristan, where security forces earlier this week killed attackers who tried to storm the educational institution. He said all students and staff were evacuated safely.
Speaking to tribal elders and in televised remarks, Naqvi said senior Pakistani officials — including himself, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif — had repeatedly raised the issue with Taliban authorities.
“We repeatedly told them one thing: terrorism should be stopped. Do not destroy the peace in our country,” he said.
Naqvi pinned responsibility for a rare suicide bombing in Islamabad this week — which killed 12 people and wounded more than two dozen — on terror groups operating from Afghanistan.
He told tribal elders that the recent surge in attacks is carried out by non-Pakistani terrorists. “Our local people aren’t used to carrying out these attacks,” he said.
Regional diplomacy intensifies
The latest Russian offer follows earlier rounds of mediation by Qatar and Turkiye that produced a temporary ceasefire. Talks held in Istanbul last week failed to produce a durable agreement, diplomats said, leaving a fragile situation on the ground.
Earlier this week, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also offered mediation after discussions with his Pakistani counterpart and expressed concern over recent clashes, Tehran said.
On Wednesday, Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and Iran’s Araghchi spoke by telephone and “welcomed the agreement reached between Kabul and Islamabad… on a mutual ceasefire and an end to cross-border shootings”, the Russian foreign ministry said in a Telegram statement.
Both ministers called for continued dialogue “in the interests of ensuring regional stability and security”, the statement added.
Islamabad warns patience is running out
Analysts warn that terrorist groups — including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — have rebuilt networks inside Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Islamabad says the TTP and other anti-Pakistan terror groups enjoy sanctuary across the border.
Pakistan has repeatedly demanded decisive Taliban action against terrorist groups. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said after the Islamabad blast that the country was in a “state of war” and questioned the prospects for talks with Kabul following the attack.
Security experts warn that if Kabul continues to shelter anti-Pakistan terror groups, the border violence could spiral into a new cycle of instability.
Islamabad’s officials say they have exhausted diplomatic avenues and that persistent cross-border attacks threaten Pakistan’s security gains and economic progress.
