Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for closer cooperation with the Taliban during a visit to restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, warning that Afghanistan’s soil must not be allowed to serve as a staging ground for foreign-backed militant groups operating against Pakistan.
Speaking in Peshawar, Sharif stressed the importance of regional collaboration to ensure peace and stability. “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was, and remains, on the front line of the fight against terrorism,” he said. “Until terrorism is eliminated, the federal government will continue to support the province’s security efforts.”
The remarks come amid a noticeable shift in Islamabad’s diplomatic posture toward the Taliban, following months of heightened tensions over cross-border attacks. While Pakistani officials had previously accused the Taliban of providing sanctuary to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups, recent statements have avoided directly naming the Taliban.
That rhetorical change coincides with improved bilateral ties. In recent weeks, Pakistan upgraded its diplomatic relations with the Taliban to ambassadorial level, following sustained dialogue reportedly facilitated by China. The move comes as both sides seek to manage the threat posed by armed groups operating along their shared border.
Meanwhile, in New York, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan’s former foreign minister and head of a high-level diplomatic delegation to the United Nations, accused unnamed neighboring countries of providing cross-border support to insurgent groups. Speaking at the U.N. headquarters, he cited both the T.T.P. and the Baloch Liberation Army as beneficiaries of external backing.
“Both groups have drawn Pakistan’s concern due to support they receive from some of our neighbors,” Bhutto Zardari said, adding that Pakistan has submitted evidence of such support during international forums. “We have not shied away from confronting these threats within our own territory.”
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have long been fueled by militant activity along the border. Islamabad has frequently claimed that the TTP and Baloch separatists launch attacks from Afghan soil. However, the recent thaw in relations has coincided with a decline in large-scale attacks, according to officials.
Observers note that this shift comes at a time when the Taliban are also expanding diplomatic ties with India, a development that has prompted concern in Islamabad. Pakistan’s recalibrated approach to Kabul, some analysts suggest, reflects an effort to regain influence in Afghanistan through pragmatic engagement rather than public confrontation.
