The agreement by the Taliban to relocate and disarm the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shows a significant and positive shift in the regional security landscape. This development emerged from a meeting in Kabul between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Afghan counterpart Sirajuddin Haqqani, where a wide range of issues were discussed. It reflects the outcome of Pakistan’s consistent and principled engagement with Kabul, aimed at addressing cross-border militancy through dialogue and cooperation rather than conflict. For years, Pakistan has faced the destabilizing threat of TTP militants operating from Afghan soil, with insurgents regularly launching deadly attacks inside Pakistani territory, undermining peace and security on both sides of the border.
The Enduring Threat of TTP
The TTP’s presence in Afghanistan remains substantial. Estimates place the group’s strength at approximately 6,000–6,500 fighters and their families, with the Afghan Taliban historically providing logistical and economic support, including monthly payments estimated at $43,000 and maintaining training bases across Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktika provinces. These bases have facilitated a wave in TTP-led violence in Pakistan, which in 2024 alone saw 482 attacks resulting in approximately 558 deaths, including nearly 67% security personnel and 19% civilians, marking the highest toll in over a decade.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Approach
Recognizing the urgency of the issue, Pakistan pursued a calibrated strategy emphasizing bilateral and trilateral diplomatic engagement alongside targeted military operations like Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. This approach prioritizes sustainable solutions through dialogue rather than unilateral military incursions, fostering incremental trust with Afghan authorities amid complex geopolitical dynamics. The breakthrough came in mid-2025 when Pakistan and the Taliban agreed on a phased plan for the disarmament and relocation of TTP militants away from the porous border regions, particularly relocating fighters to Afghanistan’s more remote Ghazni province. Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani also committed to ongoing cooperation and reported arrests of individuals linked to cross-border militant activity, reflecting a new level of accountability absent in previous years.
Hurdles and the Path to Lasting Peace
Nonetheless, challenges remain. The Taliban have requested Pakistan’s assistance in bearing the financial costs of relocating and rehabilitating the relocated militants, a serious issue that will require sustained negotiation. Furthermore, the international community’s role in monitoring and verifying implemented measures will be crucial to ensure these commitments translate into enduring peace and security, rather than symbolic promises. Pakistan’s position maintains that peace and prosperity depend on shared responsibility, sustained dialogue, and transparent action. Islamabad’s unwavering insistence on verifiable implementation underscores its commitment to preventing the exploitation of Afghan territory by militant groups. The human cost of past inaction is stark; between 2023 and 2024, approximately 1,000 Pakistanis, including both civilians and security personnel, lost their lives in TTP-related attacks, underlining the critical importance of decisive action. This evolving cooperation between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban offers promising momentum toward transforming a historically fraught bilateral relationship into one anchored in mutual accountability and regional peace. It is imperative that both parties, supported by the international community, nurture this fragile progress through sincere and continuous implementation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Taliban’s commitment to disarm and relocate the TTP is a vital step forward in the collective quest for regional security. Coupled with Pakistan’s principled diplomacy and counterterrorism efforts, this accord sets the stage for a new chapter, one where dialogue and cooperation replace conflict and violence. The road ahead demands persistence, patience, and partnership to secure lasting peace not only for Pakistan and Afghanistan but for the broader South Asian region.
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