Atmar Urges Taliban and Rivals to Set Aside Differences for National Defense

DID Press: Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s former foreign minister, has called on the Taliban and political opposition groups to immediately put aside their differences and unite in defense of the country following a deadly Pakistani attack on Kabul that caused significant civilian casualties.

Atmar described the killing of civilians as a “clear disregard for international humanitarian law and the fundamental principles of Islam,” stressing that the time has come for Taliban leaders and political opponents to take urgent joint national action.

In a statement released Friday, he proposed convening an emergency Loya Jirga to resolve internal disputes and create the conditions for national reconciliation. He emphasized that collective efforts to defend the country and protect civilians must be unified.

Atmar also accused the international community and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation of maintaining a “shameful silence” over Pakistan’s attacks, urging them to play a more active role in holding Islamabad accountable and reviving peace efforts.

The remarks come as some anti-Taliban politicians argue that Pakistan’s conflict with the Taliban should not be interpreted as a war against Afghanistan itself.

Meanwhile, Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defense minister, told Geo News that no clear timeline has been set to end military operations in Afghanistan, adding that there is “no doubt” the campaign will continue until Pakistan achieves its full objectives.