KABUL: Taliban regime spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has said Afghanistan wants to continue dialogue and cooperation with Pakistan, expressing hope that outstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries can be resolved through diplomatic efforts.
In an interview with Al Arabiya, Mujahid welcomed mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia and other countries aimed at helping Islamabad and Kabul overcome their differences.
“Saudi Arabia can play a positive role in this matter,” he said, adding that Kabul hoped the ongoing efforts would help find a way forward on issues between the two sides.
Mujahid also reiterated Kabul’s willingness to maintain engagement with Pakistan and said Afghanistan respected Saudi Arabia’s decisions regarding efforts to facilitate dialogue between the two countries.
He further highlighted the close ties between Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, saying the Afghan people held the kingdom and the two Holy Mosques in high regard.
Pakistan calls for end to Afghan interference
Mujahid’s comments came days after Inter-Services Public Relations Director-General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan wanted an end to terrorism and interference originating from Afghanistan.
Speaking to Al Arabiya, the ISPR director-general accused the Afghan Taliban regime of allowing its territory to be used for the recruitment, training, arming and launching of terrorist attacks against Pakistan and elsewhere in the region.
Referring to a recent United Nations report, he said dozens of terrorist groups were operating from Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan should not become the terrorist centre of the world,” he said.
Five Years of Taliban Rule: Afghanistan Faces Growing Restrictions
The military spokesperson said Pakistan reserved its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and would continue taking necessary measures to protect the lives, honour and property of its citizens.
He added that Pakistan would continue its counter-terrorism efforts, which have been ongoing for more than two decades.
Cross-border militancy remains key dispute
Pakistan has reported a sharp rise in cross-border militant activity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul to prevent militant organisations from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistani authorities maintain that the Afghan Taliban have not taken effective action against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians, a position disputed by Kabul.
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in February 2026, months after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025 following clashes at several border points.
Despite multiple rounds of talks, Islamabad and Kabul have yet to resolve their differences. The presence and activities of militant groups operating from Afghan soil remain a major point of contention between the two neighbouring countries.
