Overview
• Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, Pakistan has consistently sought to engage the Kabul regime through diplomatic, military, and intelligence channels.
• Despite persistent outreach, cross-border terrorism and infiltration from Afghan soil have continued unabated.
• Both Khawaja Muhammad Asif (Defence Minister) and Lt Gen (R) Muhammad Saeed (former CGS and DG-A ISI) have detailed Pakistan’s exhaustive efforts to secure cooperation — efforts that were met with silence or evasion from Kabul.
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Chronology of Diplomatic and Security Engagements (2021–2025)
• Foreign Minister’s Visits: 4–5 official trips to Kabul aimed at establishing peace and coordination.
• Defence Minister & ISI Delegations: 2 high-level visits addressing cross-border terrorism and the TTP threat.
• Special Representatives & Secretaries: 5 each, sent to initiate political dialogue and joint frameworks.
• National Security Advisor: 1 visit conducted for security coordination and intelligence sharing.
• Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meetings: 8–10 rounds focusing on border management and counter-terror cooperation.
• Border Flag Meetings: Over 200–225 meetings between Pakistan and Afghan field commanders along the frontier.
• Formal Diplomatic Protests: More than 800 notes of protest filed through official channels since 2021.
• Démarches Issued: 13 reported officially — 180 in total when including informal foreign office warnings.
• Intelligence Memos: Over 200 classified communications issued by the ISI to Kabul, warning of TTP mobilization inside Afghanistan.
• Chinese Mediation: On three separate occasions, Beijing facilitated indirect dialogue between Pakistan and the Taliban regime.
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Statistics and Ground Reality
From 2021 to 2025:
3,844 Pakistanis martyred civilians, military, and law enforcement combined.
10,347 terrorist incidents recorded.
• Despite hundreds of official protests and dozens of meetings, there has been no positive response from Kabul.
Instead, Pakistan’s appeals for peace have been countered by continued TTP attacks and cross-border infiltration — often with tacit Afghan complicity.
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Key Observations and Shifts in Policy
• No Reciprocity from Kabul: The Taliban regime has ignored repeated Pakistani concerns, allowing TTP militants to operate freely.
• India’s Strategic Footprint: Kabul’s alignment with New Delhi has turned Afghanistan into a proxy front against Pakistan.
• End of Strategic Patience: Islamabad has now signaled a harder line, with no further appeals or soft diplomacy.
“Pakistan can no longer afford to maintain relations with Kabul as it did in the past… Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will have to pay a heavy price.”--------------------------
— Khawaja Muhammad Asif
Implications for Pakistan
• End of Forced Hospitality: After five decades, Pakistan intends to send all Afghans residing on its soil back to their homeland.
• Shift to Active Deterrence: No more protest notes or delegations; future policy will rely on security enforcement.
• Protection of National Resources: Islamabad reiterates that Pakistan’s land and resources belong solely to 250 million Pakistanis.
• Regional Coordination: Cooperation with China and regional partners is expected to intensify to contain cross-border militancy.
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Strategic Assessment
Pakistan’s outreach to Kabul between 2021–2025 stands as one of the most extensive diplomatic campaigns in recent regional history.
•Yet, in return, Pakistan has faced a tenfold rise in cross-border terrorism, revealing that dialogue without enforcement has limits.
• The upcoming policy direction will likely emphasize controlled engagement, border fortification, and reciprocal accountability — ensuring that Pakistan’s sovereignty is no longer compromised for the sake of goodwill.
@WheelsOfDefensePK
@ThePakistanNews