As Zabihullah Speaks of ‘Smooth Ties’ During Imran Khan Era, Ground Realities Tell a Different Story

Islamabad – Afghan Taliban regime spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has claimed that elements within Pakistan’s military are working to damage relations between the two countries, an allegation Islamabad rejects as baseless. Officials maintain that Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan is institutionally unified, with no “civil–military divide.”

Both Pakistan’s civilian government and military leadership, they said, share a single policy: regional peace anchored in verifiable Afghan action against terror groups such as the Tehreek-i- Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) operating from its soil.

In an interview with Khyber TV on October 31, Mujahid criticized Pakistan’s temporary closure of key crossings along the Durand Line, saying it had hurt traders on both sides and that “politics should not interfere with trade.” However, sources told Hindukush Tribune Network (HTN) that the closures, including those at Torkham and Chaman, are driven by security imperatives, not political motives.

Since 2021, Pakistan has faced over 1,000 cross-border attacks originating from Afghan territory, with multiple infiltration attempts by TTP and ISKP fighters foiled along the frontier. In a recent operation, TTP commander Qari Amjad was killed along with three militants while attempting to infiltrate Bajaur from Afghanistan’s Mamund area, a clash that occurred even as peace talks continued in Istanbul between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime.

Despite security challenges, Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade surpassing USD 1.6 billion in FY 2024–25. Officials emphasize that controlled border management allows legitimate trade while curbing smuggling, arms trafficking, and militant movement.

On the issue of the Kunar River dam, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid asserted that Afghanistan has the sovereign right to develop its natural resources, insisting the project would not harm Pakistan. Officials, while recognizing Afghanistan’s right to development, maintains that Kabul must ensure transparency and adhere to international water-sharing norms, as the Kunar River is vital to Pakistan’s downstream agriculture.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has cautioned the Taliban against taking unilateral steps on the project, warning that Kabul “cannot disregard Pakistan’s water rights.” Speaking to Geo News on Thursday, Asif said Islamabad has “pressure tools” at its disposal, adding that the Taliban “won’t even be able to do 100 percent of what they’re thinking of.”

Mujahid also drew comparisons with the tenure of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling that period “smooth and cooperative.” Pakistani officials, however, view this assessment as selective and misleading, noting that during 2021–22 the Taliban exploited Islamabad’s goodwill to entrench the TTP inside Afghanistan.

According to the United Nation Monitoring Team Report 2023, TTP attacks on Pakistan increased from 573 in 2021 to 1,203 in 2023, a trend that has continued into 2024. The report also revealed that the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) provided safe houses, travel permits, and weapons licenses to senior TTP leaders.

Officials say what Mujahid describes as “cooperation” was actually Pakistan’s diplomatic restraint, which the Taliban leadership failed to reciprocate. Islamabad continues to seek written, verifiable guarantees ensuring Afghan soil will not be used by TTP, BLA, or ISKP against Pakistan.

With Türkiye and Qatar mediating, Pakistan maintains that sustained dialogue backed by accountability is the only path to lasting regional stability. “Peace will follow only when words turn into verifiable action,” a senior official stated, underscoring Islamabad’s insistence on counter-terror guarantees as the basis for future engagement.

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