ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Taliban government has pledged that its territory will not be used to harm any country and warned that anyone violating the order will face action.
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi made the remarks after a gathering of Afghan religious scholars who endorsed a resolution barring the use of Afghan soil for attacks abroad. Tolo News reported that about 1,000 scholars attended the meeting and approved measures empowering the government to act against violators.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have struggled to maintain a fragile calm after deadly border clashes in October. The fighting was the worst since the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021. Islamabad accuses militants based in Afghanistan of planning attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul rejects the claims and says Pakistan’s security challenges are internal.
Border tensions have continued. Heavy firing on Friday killed at least five people. Three rounds of peace talks hosted by Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have failed to produce lasting results.
Muttaqi said the Afghan leadership had not authorized any individual or group to conduct military operations abroad. He said the Islamic Emirate would act against anyone using Afghan soil to harm others.
He added that religious scholars consider obedience to this directive obligatory for all Muslims. He also urged unity within the Muslim world and warned against internal hostility.
Pakistan welcomed reports of the scholars’ resolution but said it needed formal, written assurances from Kabul. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said previous commitments were not honored.
He said any recognition by Afghan leaders that Afghan soil is being used by the TTP or other militants is a positive step. But he noted that the resolution did not explicitly mention Pakistan or groups accused of launching cross-border attacks.
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Militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operate along the mountainous border between the two countries. The group has fought the Pakistani state for nearly two decades. The TTP follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law similar to the Taliban in Kabul, though Afghan authorities deny having an operational partnership with the group.
