Pakistan welcomes US role in Afghanistan talks, but demands verifiable action from Kabul

Pakistan said on Sunday it will welcome efforts by the United States and other friendly countries to facilitate dialogue with Afghanistan, provided Kabul commits to verifiable action against militants on its soil. The statement followed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's offer on Saturday of a "productive role" in easing tensions.

Why does Pakistan welcome a US role in Afghanistan talks?

Islamabad says it is open to sincere mediation by friendly countries, but not to unconditional talks. Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said meaningful engagement needs a clear commitment from Afghan authorities to take concrete, sustained and verifiable action against groups such as the TTP and the Baloch Liberation Army.

"Pakistan would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries, including the United States, to facilitate dialogue with Afghanistan," Khan said. He added that the commitment must cover the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army and other "terrorist groups" operating from Afghan soil.

"Pakistan remains open to constructive engagement, provided it leads to tangible outcomes addressing our legitimate security concerns," he said.

What did Rubio say about Pakistan's terrorism concerns?

Rubio spoke at the G20 foreign ministers' conference in Atlanta on Saturday. He said Washington had heard Pakistan's concerns about terrorist attacks originating from Afghanistan and did not want the country to be targeted.

"Pakistan is concerned about terrorist attacks that are being sponsored from the territory of Afghanistan. They feel as if the Taliban have not done enough to constrain those attacks, and they have taken action against it," Rubio said.

"We obviously have heard those concerns on their part. We obviously don't want them to be targeted for terrorism. So if there's a productive role for us to play, we would play it," he added.

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Rubio acknowledged that Washington did not necessarily have the closest relationship with the Afghan Taliban. He said the United States opposed terrorism regardless of where it originated or whom it targeted.

"We've heard the concerns that Pakistan has raised and we've seen some of those attacks that they point to. We're against terrorism no matter where it emanates from and who it targets," he said.

Why are Pakistan and Afghanistan in dispute over cross-border militancy?

Tensions have persisted amid mutual accusations over militant attacks. Islamabad says armed groups based in Afghanistan are responsible for attacks on Pakistani security forces and civilians, while Kabul denies allowing its territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

The dispute has triggered fierce border clashes this year, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan, including Kabul. Pakistan says around 4,700 of its citizens have been killed in militant attacks originating from Afghanistan over the past three years. Kabul disputes the allegations.

How did Pakistan respond to the Afghan Taliban's claims on talks?

Pakistan's Information Ministry said on Saturday that the Afghan government's refusal to address cross-border terrorism was the main obstacle to restoring normal relations between the two countries. The ministry was responding to a video statement by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

Mujahid said efforts by mediating countries and Kabul had failed to resolve tensions between the neighbors. Speaking to an Afghan media outlet, he accused Islamabad of lacking the "necessary readiness" to peacefully resolve its disputes with Kabul.

"The Taliban regime's persistent refusal to address terrorism remains the principal obstacle to normal relations," Pakistan's Information Ministry said. "Shifting blame, making hollow assurances and questioning Pakistan's policies will neither resolve the crisis nor absolve Kabul of its responsibilities," it added.

Have earlier mediation efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan worked?

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban administration to take verifiable and irreversible action against militant sanctuaries, particularly those linked to the TTP. Several rounds of negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Turkey last year failed to produce a workable agreement. Pakistan said the Afghan Taliban had offered no assurances on key security concerns, and later diplomatic efforts involving China also failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Russia, the only country to have formally recognized the Taliban government, has also offered to facilitate a settlement if both sides request its involvement. Moscow's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, renewed the proposal last month. The latest round of Moscow Format consultations on Oct. 5 ended without a joint statement because the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban delegations disagreed over references to terrorist networks operating from Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Foreign Office has previously said negotiations with Kabul could not be unconditional, while maintaining that Islamabad remained open to sincere mediation efforts by friendly countries.