Kabul/Islamabad – Rahmatullah Najib, deputy interior minister who led their delegation in talks with Pakistan, admitted on Wednesday that recent talks with Pakistan in Istanbul ended without any formal agreement, as the Taliban refused to take concrete action against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) networks operating from Afghan soil.
Speaking at a press conference alongside deputy prime minister for economic affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Najib said the Taliban had offered only to consider relocating TTP members to Afghanistan if Pakistan agreed to refer to them as “good people” rather than terrorists. “We told them: If you declare these individuals to be decent people, then we will consider how to bring them over so that you can be rid of them. But if you call them terrorists and we agree to transfer them, you’ll just say the Islamic Emirate is supporting terrorists,” Najib stated.
Najib also revealed that Pakistan had requested the Taliban issue a religious decree, or fatwa, condemning all TTP conflicts against the Pakistani government. He rejected the demand, emphasizing that the Taliban do not have the authority to rule on conflicts in another country. “We don’t have the right to determine whether the war in Pakistan is justified or not,” he said, explaining that any fatwa would fall under the jurisdiction of the Darul Iftaa, the Religious Rulings Authority, rather than the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
He further noted that Pakistan sought assurances that the Taliban would prevent any acts of violence within Pakistan’s borders, a demand Najib called unrealistic. “They asked us to guarantee that not even one security incident happens in Pakistan. With these kinds of demands, no progress will be possible,” he added, highlighting the Taliban’s ongoing deflection and denial in the face of rising cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Baradar recently ordered Afghan traders to halt trade with Pakistan, ending agreements within three months to explore alternative trade options. Analysts say that while temporary trade and border restrictions can reflect security imperatives, the move underscores the Taliban’s broader use of economic measures as political leverage. Despite provocations and repeated cross-border incidents, Pakistan remains Afghanistan’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding USD 1.6 billion in FY2024–25.
Najib’s remarks further reveal a consistent pattern in which the Taliban shield terrorist networks while avoiding accountability. By refusing to issue a fatwa against violence, denying responsibility for TTP operations, and seeking protection from Pakistani counterterrorism measures, the Taliban appear focused on maintaining strategic leverage rather than pursuing concrete solutions.
“The comments underline the Taliban’s attempt to shift accountability while continuing to harbor militants,” an analyst speaking to HTN on condition of anonymity said. This week, Qari Hedayatullah, a TTP leader from Khyber District and member of the group’s military commission, was killed in an IED blast in Nangarhar, Afghanistan. Hedayatullah had been involved in high-profile attacks, including the Peshawar Police Lines mosque and Mina Bazar blasts, and had been photographed with TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud.
Reports indicate that training camps for cross-border attacks remain active in Afghan provinces such as Khost, Kunar, and Paktika, highlighting the persistent threat posed by militant sanctuaries. Pakistan has repeatedly shared intelligence with the Taliban, urging them to prevent TTP fighters from launching attacks from Afghan territory, a responsibility the Taliban continue to deny. The United Nations reported in September 2025 that approximately 6,000 TTP fighters remain based in Afghanistan. Separately, a video released by the attacker who entered Cadet College Wana shows him speaking with an Afghan accent, with investigations indicating he is likely Afghan.
Security officials emphasize that Pakistan has consistently sought the dismantling of terror infrastructure, not merely the relocation of fighters. Observers argue that sustainable peace in the region requires verifiable action from the Taliban, including dismantling terrorist hubs, ending cross-border infiltration, and providing written guarantees as proposed during the Istanbul talks. Until such measures are implemented, Najib’s remarks suggest that the Taliban will continue to rely on political posturing, leaving South Asia’s security challenges unresolved and exposing the group’s hypocrisy.
