Islamabad: Pakistan is ready for dialogue with the Afghan Taliban but insists terrorists be handed over first, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said. He stressed that Taliban must decide whether the TTP or Pakistan is more important, and whether terrorism or peace is their priority. Pakistan’s stance comes amid continuing cross-border attacks threatening national security and regional stability.
In a detailed interview with Geo News’ Capital Talk, DG ISPR said Afghan Taliban are harboring terrorists, even within government buildings. He emphasized that Pakistan has repeatedly sought talks but expects Taliban to first dismantle terrorist infrastructure and stop supporting attacks targeting Pakistani civilians and military posts. Pakistan has conducted strikes against 81 militant locations linked to Taliban-supported operations.
Read more: Pakistan strikes terror hideouts, military infrastructure in Kandahar
The DG highlighted that Pakistan targeted Taliban ammunition depots, drone storage, and weapons in Kabul, which were being used against Pakistan. Civilian casualties reported by Taliban propaganda are false, he said, explaining that many militants disguise themselves as civilians. He added that narcotics addicts are being exploited for suicide attacks, a Taliban tactic with historical precedent.
DG ISPR clarified that Pakistan has no problem with Afghan citizens, who themselves suffer under Taliban rule. “The war is not imposed on Afghanistan; terrorism was imposed on Pakistan,” he said, recalling decades of attacks orchestrated from Afghan territory. He also accused India of supporting terrorism by supplying drones to the Taliban, all of which Pakistan intercepted or destroyed.
Read more: Afghan Taliban must choose between Pakistan and terrorists
He urged international scrutiny, noting that Taliban have invited Somali al-Shabab and Osama bin Laden’s associates to Afghanistan, making the country a global terrorist hub. Pakistan, he said, has blocked these networks, emphasizing that counterterrorism is a regional and global responsibility. Cross-border smuggling has decreased due to Pakistani measures, but insurgent threats persist along the frontier.