Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said the Taliban are divided into two competing power centres, complicating Islamabad’s efforts to address cross-border militancy and negotiate a security framework with their administration.
Dar said half of the Taliban leadership favours easing tensions with Pakistan, while the other half supports maintaining a hard line. “When decisions are made, there are two power centres,” he said in an interview, adding that during talks with Islamabad, one faction would signal agreement while the other would oppose it.
He said Pakistan had prepared to conduct military operations in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan to “clear” militant groups but halted the plan after intervention from Qatar. The Taliban have not commented on his remarks.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have remained strained, with Pakistan demanding that Kabul either disarm the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or expel the group from the border region. Three rounds of talks in Doha and Istanbul, along with other bilateral engagements, have failed to reach a lasting agreement.
Dar said Pakistan’s intention was to “teach a lesson” to the Taliban over their failure to act against militants, but Qatar urged restraint. He described the Taliban’s decision-making structure as divided and inconsistent with Pakistan’s security expectations.
According to figures Dar cited, around 4,000 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and 20,000 wounded in attacks by anti-state groups since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021. He said Kabul must take responsibility for preventing militant groups from using Afghan territory to target Pakistan.
Dar also said the United Nations has urged Islamabad to resume the transit of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan through Pakistan. He suggested the government may review its position but said the current security climate leaves little room for “empathy.”
Taliban have not responded to Pakistan’s latest statements. Islamabad has said the informal ceasefire with the Taliban, aimed at reducing militant attacks inside Pakistan, is no longer in place amid continued security incidents.
