For over four decades, Pakistan and Afghanistan have shared a troubled border marked by conflict, displacement and unfulfilled promises.
In recent months, this fragile frontier has once again become tense. Cross-border attacks by militants operating from Afghan territory have claimed the lives of Pakistani soldiers and civilians. Incidents in Chitral and North Waziristan have shaken public confidence in dialogue and reminded both nations that peace cannot exist where sanctuaries for violence remain intact.
Pakistan has repeatedly presented evidence that the TTP continues to enjoy safe havens inside Afghanistan. The group’s leadership, training camps and logistical networks operate openly, enabling attacks on our security forces and border posts. In response, Pakistan took necessary measures in self-defence, which subsequently prompted the Afghan Taliban regime to call for a ceasefire. These provocations led to fresh attempts at engagement.
After earlier discussions in Doha, Turkiye and Qatar jointly facilitated another round of talks in Istanbul. Pakistan’s delegation carried documented proof of TTP activities, along with specific proposals for verifiable border monitoring and written guarantees from the Afghan government. Kabul’s representatives, however, refused to provide any signed assurances, insisting on verbal commitments alone. The meeting ended without results.
This breakdown reflects the deeper dilemma within Afghanistan’s power structure. The ideological affinity between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP blurs the line between governance and militancy. As long as the TTP is seen as an ideological ally rather than an adversary, no agreement will hold.
The problem has been years in the making. When the Doha Agreement was signed in 2020, it was heralded as the beginning of a new phase of regional stability. In that accord, the Taliban pledged that Afghan soil would never again be used to threaten another country. Pakistan welcomed the commitment and hoped that a responsible government in Kabul would end decades of cross-border terror. Yet, after the withdrawal of foreign forces in 2021, militant groups resurfaced. The promises of Doha were overtaken by the reality of ungoverned spaces, porous borders and competing centres of authority within Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s position remains consistent. We seek peace, but not at the expense of our security. Our response has been measured and proportionate. Our forces have acted with discipline, ensuring that civilians are protected even in moments of confrontation. Yet restraint cannot replace responsibility. Every state has the right to defend its people. That right is not aggression; it is sovereignty in practice.
At the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, the Afghan delegate used the forum to accuse Pakistan of destabilisation. I responded firmly on behalf of my country, reminding the assembly that Pakistan has sacrificed more than ninety thousand lives in its fight against terrorism and continues to host over four million Afghan refugees.
These facts are not political talking points but proof of Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to stability and humanity. Our quarrel is not with Afghanistan’s people but with those who misuse its soil to attack our nation.
The way forward must now blend diplomacy with deterrence. Pakistan should continue its engagement but also place its evidence before the UN, the OIC and the SCO. Multilateralising the issue will make it harder for Kabul to avoid its commitments. At the same time, Pakistan must secure its frontier with modern border management, biometric screening, and transparent trade and visa systems. A secure border is not a barrier to friendship; it is the foundation of mutual trust.
Humanitarian cooperation must also continue. The ordinary people of both countries remain bound by culture and commerce. Millions of Afghans who live, study and work in Pakistan are a living testament to the country’s compassion. Trade and transit corridors should remain open under international oversight to ensure that civilians are not punished for governments' failures.
The Istanbul impasse should serve as a wake-up call. It has confirmed that dialogue without accountability only perpetuates denial. Pakistan’s patience is not limitless. If diplomacy is ignored, Pakistan will defend its borders and its citizens as every sovereign state is entitled to do. The message is clear: Afghan territory cannot and must not be used for cross-border terrorism. Sanctuaries must end and words must translate into verifiable action.
The frontier between Pakistan and Afghanistan should no longer be a line of tension but a bridge of responsibility. Pakistan has done its part through sacrifice, dialogue and restraint. It is now time for Afghanistan to demonstrate that peace is more than a promise.
The writer is a member of the National Assembly. She holds a PhD in Law, and serves on the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Kashmir.