ISLAMABAD – Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that it is now Kabul’s responsibility to take decisive action against militants using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan, following the establishment of a joint monitoring and verification mechanism involving third-party mediators.
His remarks came after Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry announced that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to maintain a ceasefire and set up a joint framework to ensure compliance and penalize violators. The understanding was reached during peace talks held in Istanbul from October 25 to 30 under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to regional stability.
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Speaking on Geo News’ program “Naya Pakistan,” Tarar praised the mediation efforts of Turkiye and Qatar, stating that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership are “on the same page” in their approach to regional peace and counterterrorism. He reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance that Afghan territory must not be used for cross-border terrorism, adding that the new mechanism eliminates any excuse for inaction by the Taliban administration.
Tarar described the Taliban government’s anti-Pakistan narrative as “propaganda warfare,” calling it a fractured regime that lacks control over the entire country. He emphasized that the responsibility now rests on Kabul to take action against terrorist factions, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan, operating from its territory.
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The minister said that operational details of the new framework would be finalized in the next round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks scheduled for November 6 in Istanbul. He added that the arrangement provides Islamabad with a stronger platform to share intelligence and evidence of violations, reinforcing its diplomatic and security position.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, with Pakistan facing a surge in cross-border attacks, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Despite multiple requests from Islamabad to curb terrorist activity, Kabul’s administration has been accused of offering safe havens to anti-Pakistan groups. The recent ceasefire and monitoring framework are seen as critical steps toward de-escalation.