Pakistan Downplays Taliban’s New Border Force, Stresses Respect for Frontier

DID Press: Pakistan has played down reports that the Taliban are forming an 8,000-member special border force, describing the move as an internal Afghan matter while emphasizing that respect for the border between the two countries remains Islamabad’s primary concern.

Speaking at a weekly press briefing on Wednesday, Tahir Andrabi said the reported force was a decision for the Taliban authorities themselves.

“This is the Taliban’s own decision,” Andrabi said, while stressing that the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan is clearly defined and must be respected.

The Pakistani official also addressed broader relations between Kabul and Islamabad, saying Pakistan has explored all available diplomatic options in dealing with the Taliban administration. However, he argued that developments since October 2025 have made it difficult to continue diplomatic engagement in the same manner as before.

According to Andrabi, the full resumption of diplomatic engagement will require the Taliban to provide “verifiable commitments” regarding key bilateral concerns.

His remarks come amid reports that the Taliban are establishing a new special unit known as the “Hebati Force,” reportedly comprising around 8,000 personnel. The force is expected to play a leading role in decision-making and security operations in border areas.

The reported formation of the unit follows months of heightened tensions and deadly clashes between Taliban and Pakistani forces along the frontier, underscoring ongoing security challenges between the neighboring countries.