Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says continued Taliban support for Pakistani militant groups remains the main obstacle preventing a reduction in tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban administration.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that relations with the Taliban would not return to normal unless the group stops supporting and sheltering militants opposed to Pakistan.
The remarks reflect the ongoing security dispute between the two sides, particularly over accusations that anti-Pakistan armed groups continue operating from Afghan territory.
Islamabad has repeatedly linked cross-border attacks and internal security challenges to the presence of militant networks inside Afghanistan, while Taliban authorities have previously denied allowing Afghan territory to be used against other countries.
The continued exchange of accusations has strained relations between the neighboring countries, despite ongoing diplomatic contacts and economic interdependence.
Pakistan’s latest position suggests that security concerns remain at the center of its policy toward the Taliban and that any broader normalization of ties is increasingly tied to counterterrorism demands.
The dispute also highlights the broader regional challenge of balancing political engagement with unresolved security tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
