Islamabad said on Saturday that it had steadily sought dialogue and constructive engagement with the Afghan Taliban, but stressed it would not permit what it described as a "pretence of dialogue" to protect those who pose a threat to Pakistani citizens.

The statement from Pakistan's information ministry came in response to comments made a day earlier by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid during an interview with Al Arabiya English. Mujahid said Afghanistan was open to talks with Pakistan and pushed for improved arrangements on intelligence-sharing and cooperation. He also expressed support for an expanded Saudi role in mediating between Kabul and Islamabad, noting that Saudi Arabia was an ally to both nations and could contribute positively to settling their disputes.

Warnings and Rebuttals

During the same interview, Mujahid cautioned Pakistan against launching military operations on Afghan soil, stating that Kabul would protect its sovereignty against any such move. He rejected Islamabad's claims that militant groups were using Afghan territory to stage attacks inside Pakistan.

"If Pakistan invokes Article 51 to violate the sanctity of Afghan territory, Afghanistan has the right to defend its country, and we will do so," he said, warning of a "crushing response" to any breach of Afghan sovereignty.

Pakistan dismissed Kabul's threat of "retaliatory action," arguing that the Taliban government should focus on dismantling terrorist networks based on its own soil rather than "deflecting responsibility." Islamabad reaffirmed that it had both the "will and capability" to remove terrorist threats and would take every necessary step, within the bounds of international law, to safeguard its people, land and sovereignty.

The Kohat Attack

Pakistan tied the Taliban's warnings to a recent deadly assault on civilians and police officers who were attending Friday prayers in Kohat. "We strongly condemn the barbaric terrorist attack on civilians and police officials offering Friday prayers in Kohat," the information ministry said, referring to the attackers as "the vilest of Khwarij with roots in Afghanistan."

The ministry stated that Pakistan had repeatedly flagged concerns about Afghan territory being used by Fitna al-Khawarij and other militant outfits to plan and carry out attacks. The government applies the label Fitna al-Khawarij to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"The presence of terrorist sanctuaries, alongside their recruitment and support infrastructure in Afghanistan, poses a direct threat to Pakistan's security," the ministry said, adding that these issues had been raised with the Afghan Taliban regime and its representatives on multiple occasions.

Call for Concrete Action

Islamabad rejected Mujahid's claim that Kabul neither permitted the TTP to operate from Afghan soil nor backed armed groups targeting other nations. Pakistan pointed to the Doha Agreement, under which the Afghan Taliban committed to preventing Afghan territory from being used to endanger other countries.

While acknowledging that the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had condemned the Kohat attack and offered sympathy to the victims' families, Pakistan expressed regret that the statement made no mention of terrorism.

"Condemnation must be matched by concrete action," the ministry said, urging the Taliban to adopt "credible, verifiable and sustained measures" to break up terrorist sanctuaries and disrupt recruitment and training operations.