A senior former diplomat has revealed that Pakistan was forced to conduct counter-terrorism operations in Afghanistan after extensive diplomatic efforts and the failure of third-party mediation to stop continuous terrorist attacks from Afghan soil.
, Sardar Masood Khan, former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a veteran diplomat, said in a statement today that Islamabad initially took the path of extensive diplomatic engagement to address its security concerns after the Taliban administration came to power in 2021.
Mr. Khan, who has also served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States and permanent representative to the United Nations, explained that the country continuously advocated for bilateral negotiations and also tried to garner international support for the Taliban government, hoping that mutual cooperation would promote regional peace and stability.
When direct negotiations proved fruitless, Pakistan sought mediation through friendly countries. Mr. Khan referred to talks hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where a proposal to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan was reportedly rejected by the Afghan side. Mediation efforts last year involving Qatar and Turkey also remained inconclusive, as the promises of the Afghan Taliban leadership were not fulfilled.
The former ambassador lamented that despite repeated assurances and religious edicts from the Taliban, militant groups including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ISIS, and remnants of al-Qaeda continued to use Afghan soil to carry out attacks, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Pakistani civilians and security personnel.
In response to this growing aggression, Mr. Khan confirmed that Pakistan launched carefully targeted counter-terrorism operations aimed solely at militant sanctuaries and training centers. He described these actions as defensive in nature and a necessary response to cross-border provocations.
He described Pakistan’s current strategy as two-pronged, combining these necessary counter-terrorism measures with continuous diplomatic efforts. According to Mr. Khan, Islamabad will continue to engage with Kabul, possibly through mediators like China and Qatar, to ensure that Afghan territory is no longer used for terrorism.
The former ambassador also expressed concern over external interference, alleging that India is escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan through the use of proxies.
Sardar Masood Khan concluded by reiterating that while diplomacy is the “ultimate path” to resolving tensions, Pakistan will not hesitate to exercise its right to self-defense with a proportionate response, ensuring that all actions are in accordance with international humanitarian law.