KABUL: The Afghan Taliban government has expressed its willingness to maintain dialogue and cooperation with Pakistan, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid saying Kabul hopes unresolved issues between the neighbouring countries can be addressed through engagement.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, Mujahid welcomed diplomatic efforts by Saudi Arabia and other countries aimed at reducing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.
“Saudi Arabia can play a positive role in this matter,” he said, adding that Kabul hoped such initiatives would help the two sides find a mutually acceptable way forward.
Mujahid also highlighted the importance Afghanistan attaches to Saudi Arabia, saying the Afghan people have deep respect for the kingdom and the two Holy Mosques.
He said Kabul was prepared to continue its engagement with Pakistan and respected Riyadh’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.
Islamabad calls for action against militancy
The Taliban spokesperson’s comments came shortly after Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Al Arabiya that Pakistan’s priority was an end to terrorism and what it describes as interference emanating from Afghanistan.
The military spokesperson alleged that Afghan territory was being used for the recruitment, training, arming and launching of militant attacks against Pakistan and other countries in the region.
Citing a recent United Nations report, he said numerous militant groups were operating from Afghanistan and warned against allowing the country to become a hub for terrorism.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistan retained its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter and would take necessary steps to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens.
He added that Pakistan would continue its counterterrorism campaign, which he said had been ongoing for around two decades.
Dispute over cross-border attacks
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have remained strained amid an increase in cross-border militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Afghan authorities to prevent militant groups from using Afghan soil for attacks inside Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that Kabul has not taken sufficient measures against groups it holds responsible for attacks on Pakistani security personnel and civilians. Afghan authorities have rejected such allegations.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, several months after the two countries reached a ceasefire agreement in October 2025 following clashes at multiple points along the border.
Although Islamabad and Kabul have held several rounds of negotiations, key disputes remain unresolved. The presence and activities of militant groups based in Afghanistan continue to be one of the main sources of tension between the two countries.
