According to an analysis by Express Tribune, the easing of tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, along with a fatwa issued by clerics affiliated with the group to prevent Afghans from participating in cross-border wars, was carried out at the request of mediators.
In a commentary published on Monday, December 29, Express Tribune quoted its sources as saying that the sharp rhetoric between Pakistan and the Taliban has softened in recent days, with both sides seeking to resolve their differences through dialogue.
The Taliban recently issued a fatwa stating that Afghans are not permitted to take part in cross-border wars or conflicts in other countries.
While some Pakistani officials welcomed the Taliban’s fatwa, they have called for written security guarantees.
Meanwhile, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, said in Kabul two days ago that Afghan soil would not be used against any country and that the doors to dialogue remain open.
Haqqani’s remarks have been interpreted as a sign of a shift in the Taliban’s approach amid tensions between the group and Islamabad.
The commentary notes that the Taliban appear to have taken steps to prevent attacks by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to the analysis, mediators from Qatar, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia had urged the Taliban to issue a fatwa barring Afghans from participating in cross-border wars as part of efforts to reduce tensions and pave the way for dialogue.
It also notes that Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, has said that talks held in Saudi Arabia likewise failed to yield results.
This comes as Islamabad continues to demand written security guarantees to prevent TTP attacks launched from Afghan territory.
