Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over cross-border terrorism are currently very high, marked by recent military clashes, mutual accusations, and ongoing, yet difficult, peace talks. The core issue is Pakistan’s accusation that the Afghan Taliban government provides safe havens for anti-Pakistan militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Following the ceasefire, talks were held in Doha and Istanbul. While both sides agreed to maintain the ceasefire, the initial round of talks in Istanbul could not achieve much desired results except an interim agreement to resume dialogue to chalk out mechanism for verifiable solid counter terror measures. As per reports, a stage came when inconsistent response of Afghan Taliban pushed the dialogue to absolute collapse. Timely efforts of Turkey and Qatar eventually rescued the dialogue process from collapse which subsequently led to interim agreement. Though, Afghan Taliban are in constant state of denial about the presence of banned TTP on their soil, however, recurring cross- border terrorist attacks and infiltration attempts from Afghanistan are busting the baseless stance of Kabul. It is being reported through various platforms that an Afghan border police official was killed among the infiltrating terrorists during a CT operation of Pakistan security forces.
The terrorist killed in North Waziristan district on November 2 has been identified as an Afghan citizen who was an on-duty official of the Afghan Border Police.
According to the documents recovered from the killed terrorist, his name is Qasim alias Milyar, son of Gula Pir, resident of Srotah Village, Giyan District, Paktika Province. He was performing duties as an Afghan police official on the Pak-Afghan border adjacent to North Waziristan. A fake Pakistani ID card was also recovered from him, which reflects issuance date of 2019 with validity until 2029.
Growing Involvement of Afghan Nationals in Terrorism
Involvement of Afghan border police official in cross border terrorist attack is not an exceptional incidence. Destructive tendency is spreading like a new norm in known factions of Afghan Taliban as evident from facts kept before interim Taliban setup. Fitna al Khawarij (FAK) maintains over 60 terrorist camps across Nuristan, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktiya, Khost and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan, functioning as trans-frontier hubs for infiltration into Pakistan’s KP region. Despite Pakistan repeatedly sharing verified evidence of these TTP and BLA sanctuaries, Kabul’s continued inaction exposes its complicity and disregard for regional stability. Since June 2025, Pakistani security agencies documented 172 Tashkils (36% increase) and approximately 4000 Khawarij terrorists (48% increase) crossing from these Afghan provinces into KP, underlining a sustained surge in cross border terrorism. From Afghan provinces including Zabul, Paktika, Kandahar, Helmand and Nimruz, FAH elements infiltrate Balochistan province, with 83 Tashkeels and around 1,200 terrorists moving cis-frontier to target Pakistan, demonstrating coordinated regional penetration.
Glorification of Terrorists
On 26 October 2025, members of the Afghan community in Rennes, France, gathered at Masjid At Taqwa to offer condolences for an Afghan national, Mullah Sadam. What initially appeared to be a routine condolence meeting soon revealed a more troubling reality – the presence of individuals showing sympathy toward the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Mullah Sadam, also known as Huzaifa, was not an ordinary Afghan citizen. He was one of three TTP terrorists killed by Pakistani security forces during an operation in Bajaur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The son of Abdul Baqi and a resident of PD-3, Kunduz province, Afghanistan, Sadam had crossed into Pakistan with three other TTP operatives. On 19 October 2025, Pakistani forces intercepted and eliminated them near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, a region often exploited by TTP for infiltration. Sadam’s death underscores Pakistan’s long-standing assertion that cross-border terrorism remains a serious threat originating from Afghan territory. The incident once again confirms that TTP continues to use Afghanistan as a base for planning, launching, and retreating after attacks in Pakistan. According to Pakistani security officials, operations like the one in Bajaur are essential to counter such infiltration attempts. The involvement of Afghan nationals highlights critical concerns regarding the recruitment, training, and cross-border movement of militants. For Pakistan, this event further validates its demand that the Afghan government take effective measures to dismantle terrorist groups using its soil to target neighboring states. Pakistan has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent terrorist activities emanating from its territory. The condolence gathering for Mullah Sadam in Rennes also reveals the existence of support networks for banned militant groups not only in Afghanistan but within Afghan communities abroad. Such events glorify individuals associated with terrorism and risk spreading extremist ideologies among Afghan diasporas in Europe. While such gatherings are alarming in Afghanistan itself, their occurrence in European cities like Rennes is particularly concerning. It indicates that segments of the Afghan diaspora continue to sympathize with and publicly honor terrorists. From a European security perspective, this trend is deeply concerning. Allowing public gatherings that commemorate individuals linked to terrorism may contravene European laws prohibiting support for banned organizations. Such events create opportunities for radicalization, nurturing sympathy for violent extremist groups. The Rennes event illustrates that individuals associated with militant organizations are being celebrated beyond South Asia, heightening fears of extremist influence within immigrant communities. This development also poses challenges for European authorities, who must monitor diaspora networks more closely to ensure they are not being used to propagate extremist narratives or fund militant causes. The connection between South Asian militant groups and certain members of the European diaspora demonstrates that terrorism transcends national and regional boundaries, spreading through shared ideologies and transnational networks. Although the elimination of Mullah Sadam and his accomplices represents a short-term operational success for Pakistan’s security forces, the broader and more enduring challenge lies in dismantling not only the militant networks themselves but also the international systems of support that sustain extremism and terrorism.
Taliban’s Unwise Stance and Way Forward
Following the Mullah Mutaqi’s visit to New Delhi , Taliban officials are seen more inclined towards confrontation with Pakistan. Spokesperson Zabhiullah has made number of claims contradictory to ground facts. Recently, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting dismissed Mujahid’s assertion that Pakistan refused Kabul’s offer to deport terrorists operating against Pakistan, terming it “false and misleading”. Islamabad stated it had demanded the terrorists be controlled or arrested, and when told they were Pakistani nationals, immediately proposed their handover through official border posts.
The Taliban regime can either act as a responsible neighbor; addressing Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns or risk international isolation by continuing terrorist patronization. The choice it makes will determine not only the fate of bilateral relations but also the future stability of South Asia. The international community must hold the Taliban regime accountable for its spoiling actions, with a clear purpose to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a permanent safe haven for terrorist groups. Islamabad has made it absolutely clear that active presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on Afghan soil is no more tolerable.