ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Thursday cautiously welcomed a statement issued by more than 1,000 Afghan ulama in Kabul, noting that its effectiveness will depend on written assurances from Afghan Taliban leaders, something Islamabad has repeatedly requested but has yet to obtain.
At his weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad had taken “positive note” of the Kabul gathering’s five-point joint statement, which warned that anyone carrying out “military operations beyond the borders of Afghanistan” would be considered an act of rebellion and punished for violating the emir’s orders.
The statement, widely seen as the strongest domestic religious support against cross-border terrorism, does not mention Pakistan by name but appears to target groups such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“If segments of Afghan society realize the seriousness of the problem that their soil is being used not only by the TTP, FAK and FAH but also by their own nationals to perpetrate terrorism against Pakistan, such awareness is positive and welcome,” Andrabi said.
However, he quickly added that Pakistan would “wait, review and evaluate” the document. “The commitments made in the past by the Afghan Taliban regime have not been kept. This is exactly why, even during mediated negotiations, Pakistan insisted on written assurances.”
The nuanced response underscores Islamabad’s deep frustration with Kabul after a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan were attributed to groups operating from Afghan soil. Officials say privately they believe only a formal decree from the Taliban’s supreme leader could provide the authority needed to rein in militant networks with long-standing ties to the Afghan Taliban.
The Foreign Office also addressed the latest frictions over humanitarian aid corridors. Pakistan recently opened border crossings to allow aid convoys to enter Afghanistan, but the Afghan Taliban administration publicly rejected the move and threatened to block bilateral trade.
Andrabi called Kabul’s position “unprecedented” for a country facing dire economic and humanitarian conditions.
“On our side, the humanitarian convoy has been cleared,” he said. “It is up to him to decide whether or not the Afghan Taliban regime wishes to receive this humanitarian aid. It would be unprecedented for a state in need of aid to refuse it.”
Pakistan, he stressed, remains willing to facilitate aid “as part of our affinity and concern for the brotherly people of Afghanistan.”
The cautious tone reflects what Pakistani officials describe as a growing gap between the Taliban’s public commitments and their actions on the ground. Islamabad has repeatedly said that cross-border attacks, including the November 11 attack in Islamabad and the November 24 attack on an FC camp in Peshawar, were unacceptable.
Although Thursday’s press briefing did not detail any new measures, Andrabi reiterated that Pakistan will continue to seek firm, written guarantees that Afghan territory will not be used against Pakistan.
Diplomatic sources say Islamabad views the Ulema Council’s statement as a potentially significant change because it signals internal religious pressure in Afghanistan against militant adventurism.
But they also warn that previous commitments, notably that of the Taliban that Afghan soil would not be used against other states, have not translated into concrete actions.
On questions about US lawmakers expressing concerns over rights issues in Pakistan, Andrabi said Islamabad maintains open communication with Congress and Pakistan’s position is “fully explained” through diplomatic channels.
He also confirmed that Pakistan welcomes the US notification of a $686 million sustainment program for its F-16 fleet, calling it an integral part of regular defense cooperation.
