TERRORISM emanating from Afghanistan continues to pose a grave threat to regional peace and security, a fact that neither Pakistan nor China can afford to ignore.
It is precisely for this reason that both countries, during the 6th Pakistan-Afghanistan-China trilateral dialogue held in Kabul, firmly pressed the Afghan Taliban authorities to take concrete and verifiable steps against terrorist groups operating freely within Afghan borders.
Pakistan, in particular, has suffered immensely at the hands of groups such as TTP which, according to a recent UN Security Council report, commands some 6,000 fighters on Afghan soil. Backed by advanced weaponry and alliances with IS-K, Al Qaeda and Baloch separatists, the TTP carried out over 600 attacks in Pakistan in late 2024, killing nearly 1,000 people. These are not just internal matters for Afghanistan—they are attacks on Pakistan’s national sovereignty and stability. China, too, has voiced deep concerns, particularly over the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), now rebranded as the Turkistan Islamic Party. This group continues to operate from Afghan territory and poses a direct threat to China’s Xinjiang region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in his meeting with Afghan officials, urged Kabul to address Beijing’s security concerns, emphasizing that effective counterterrorism cooperation is essential for any meaningful bilateral development. While the trilateral dialogue itself is a welcome initiative, dialogue alone cannot guarantee security. As Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar pointed out, “encouraging progress” in political and commercial ties is overshadowed by the lack of serious movement on the security front. Islamabad has repeatedly expressed frustration that counter-terrorism commitments made by the Taliban authorities are not being honoured. Afghan leaders have offered assurances that their soil will not be used against any other country. But the time for verbal reassurances is over. What is needed now are measurable actions against known terrorist groups. The Afghan leadership must also understand that regional integration and economic progress are impossible without security. The extension of CPEC into Afghanistan—an opportunity that could bring infrastructure, investment and connectivity to the war-torn country—hinges entirely on Kabul’s ability to deliver peace and prevent cross-border terrorism. Afghan people have endured decades of war and hardship. They deserve the chance to benefit from regional cooperation and development, but that opportunity will only come when Afghan authorities take their responsibility seriously.
