Kabul Must Act, Not Accuse -

By Junaid Qaiser

For months now, Pakistan has been trying to navigate its increasingly strained relationship with the Afghan Taliban through dialogue, patience, and the hope that Kabul would step up and act like a responsible neighbor. However, recent events — particularly the Afghan Taliban’s latest claim that Pakistan conducted overnight strikes in Khost, Kunar, and Paktika — have made it painfully clear: Kabul’s denial isn’t just irresponsible; it’s downright dangerous.

ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s strong rebuttal of the Taliban’s accusations wasn’t just routine damage control. It was a rare moment of unfiltered honesty from a security establishment that seems to be running on fumes. “Whenever Pakistan attacks someone, it announces it,” he stated, brushing aside Kabul’s claims and reiterating a message Islamabad has been quietly conveying for months: Pakistan hasn’t launched any strikes inside Afghanistan, and it doesn’t target civilians.

But what really stood out in Gen Chaudhry’s comments was his focus on the mindset in Kabul, rather than the allegations themselves. “There are no good and bad Taliban,” he reminded everyone, emphasizing a point Pakistan has been trying to communicate diplomatically for years. From Islamabad’s perspective, the Afghan Taliban’s inability to distinguish between their ideological allies and transnational militants is creating a breeding ground for the TTP’s resurgence. And for Pakistan, which is the main target of this violence, it can no longer afford to treat this as a mere misunderstanding among brothers.

The collapse of the Istanbul talks in late October was something we could see coming. Pakistan made its position clear: the Afghan Taliban must put an end to cross-border terrorism and stop the TTP from using Afghan territory. In response, Kabul simply denied any such threat existed.

No negotiation can thrive when one side refuses to even acknowledge the problem. Even the efforts from Turkiye and Qatar, who stepped in to revive a faltering dialogue, couldn’t close the gap. By the time the third round of talks rolled around on November 7, Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif made it clear that the discussions were “over” and had entered an “indefinite phase.” In simpler terms, it meant that Islamabad had run out of patience.

For Pakistan, the stakes are incredibly high. The TTP’s attacks have surged once more, and the Afghan Taliban’s claim that militants aren’t operating from their territory is becoming increasingly hard to believe. At some point, hope can turn into a burden. Pakistan has now linked the resumption of trade and regional energy routes directly to Kabul’s willingness to tackle terrorism. This represents a significant shift in policy: economic interests and connectivity will no longer be separate from security concerns.

Kabul’s response—suspending trade and making public accusations—only reinforces the notion that the Afghan Taliban are reluctant to govern in a way that acknowledges their regional responsibilities. Their insistence on remaining an “interim” government indefinitely adds even more uncertainty to an already tense situation.
As tensions with Kabul rise, the court martial of former ISI chief Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hameed is quietly unfolding. Gen Chaudhry’s remarks about the case—calling for restraint and emphasizing that the process is strictly legal—suggest a broader shift within Pakistan’s institutions. It’s unprecedented to see a former spymaster facing trial for political involvement, misuse of authority, and violations of anti-espionage laws. While the outcome of this case won’t directly solve Pakistan’s Afghan dilemma, it does indicate an internal reckoning: Pakistan is working to get its own affairs in order while expecting the same from its neighbor. Islamabad has finally hit a point where what used to be diplomatic patience now feels more like strategic negligence. Pakistan simply can’t afford to ignore the threats that put its own people at risk, destabilize the border, and give the TTP room to regroup.

The Afghan Taliban often talk about sovereignty. But true sovereignty comes with responsibility — and denial isn’t a viable policy. It’s just a way to avoid facing the truth. Pakistan has dealt with the fallout of such evasions for far too long. Now, the message from Islamabad is crystal clear: the time for looking the other way has come to an end.