KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, and his British counterpart Richard Lindsay met in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the regional security situation, with a particular focus on cross-border terrorist attacks.
In a post on X, Sadiq said the envoys exchanged views on recent security developments and broader regional challenges. “We emphasized the importance of continued cooperation and coordination to address shared concerns and promote regional stability,” he wrote.
The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban over cross-border militancy. Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks in recent years, particularly in the border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where TTP and separatist groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have increased attacks on military installations, checkpoints, and security patrols.
Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing safe havens and support to TTP fighters and other militants across the border, a claim the Taliban deny. Despite Pakistan’s repeated calls for action against these groups, Taliban authorities have not taken steps to curb their presence, further heightening tensions along the shared frontier.
Security disputes and cross-border incidents have led to repeated clashes between the two sides over the past four years. Following the most recent confrontation in October last year, Pakistan closed the Afghanistan-Pakistan borders, which remain shut, severely disrupting trade, transportation, and movement of people between the two countries.
Analysts say the Taliban are unlikely to act decisively against the TTP due to ideological alignment and historical cooperation between the groups during the insurgency against the former Afghan government and international forces.
