Pakistan Army: Afghanistan Needs Elected Government
DID Press: Pakistan’s military says tensions between Islamabad and Kabul will persist until a legitimate, elected government is established in Afghanistan. The Pakistani army’s spokesperson, citing unfulfilled commitments made by the Taliban in Doha agreement, stressed that lasting stability in bilateral relations is only possible under a government that truly represents the people of Afghanistan.
Speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi on Monday, military spokesperson Sharif Chaudhry said the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul is the root cause of current tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Resolving Afghanistan-related issues is only possible when that country has an elected government that truly represents its people,” Chaudhry said.
Referring to the Doha agreement between the Taliban and the United States, he noted that the Taliban had pledged to hold a Loya Jirga and form an elected government, but this commitment has never been fulfilled. “After the fall of Ashraf Ghani’s government, the Taliban monopolized all power and halted intra-Afghan dialogue,” he added.
In response, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has repeatedly asserted that the current regime enjoys “national and religious legitimacy” and sees no need for elections. At the start of their rule, the Taliban organized a gathering of supportive clerics in Kabul to pledge allegiance to their leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and confirm his authority.
Islamabad, which supported the Taliban for years in their fight against the elected governments of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, is now concerned about the growing activity of militant groups along the shared border. In an unprecedented stance, Pakistan’s military recently stated it never welcomed the Taliban’s rise to power in Kabul.
Chaudhry said Islamabad seeks a political settlement with the Taliban administration regarding Pakistani militant groups operating from Afghan soil, but added that other options remain on the table if negotiations fail. He emphasized: “The security of Pakistan is guaranteed by its army, not Afghanistan,” warning that Pakistan will respond firmly to any attack launched from Afghan territory.
He also said that Pakistani security forces have launched extensive operations in recent months against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army, killing more than 1,600 militants.
The army spokesperson further accused Afghanistan of serving as a hub for drug trafficking, describing narcotics as the main funding source for extremist groups and claiming that many traffickers hold influence in the country’s internal politics.
Following border clashes in October, Pakistan and the Taliban held two rounds of talks in Doha and Istanbul. The first meeting resulted in an agreement on an immediate ceasefire, while the Istanbul discussions focused on monitoring mechanisms. However, there has been no visible reduction in border tensions since.