In an editorial published on Tuesday, Dawn, a prominent Pakistani newspaper, asserted that expecting the Afghan Taliban to crack down on the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is impractical. The paper argued that the Afghan Taliban are unlikely to take action against their ideological allies.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called on the Afghan Taliban to extradite TTP leaders, including Noor Wali Mehsud, to Pakistan in an effort to “maintain amicable relations” with Islamabad. Naqvi attributed the killing of five Chinese engineers in Pakistan to the TTP.

Dawn’s editorial highlighted the need for the Afghan Taliban to assume responsibility for terrorist activities emanating from Afghan territory against Pakistan. The paper pointed out that despite clear evidence of militant groups, particularly the TTP, operating from within Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban continue to deny their presence.

Dawn emphasized that Pakistan has made substantial efforts to mitigate terrorist threats through diplomatic missions involving officials, tribal elders, and scholars to Afghanistan. However, these efforts have yet to produce favorable outcomes.

The editorial noted that Pakistan should consider a new strategy in dealing with the Taliban, suggesting a cooperative approach to curb terrorist activities. The newspaper proposed that Pakistan should urge Mullah Hibatullah, the Taliban leader, to relocate TTP militants further from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Furthermore, Dawn emphasized the importance of regional cooperation. Given the concerns of Central Asian countries regarding terrorist threats from Afghanistan, Pakistan should work with China, Russia, and Iran to exert pressure on the Taliban to implement effective counter-terrorism measures. The editorial suggested that the Taliban’s desire for Chinese investment should be contingent upon their commitment to preventing cross-border terrorism.

The editorial concluded by stating that since August 2021, Pakistan has faced increased insecurity, with attacks from militant groups such as the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Therefore, it is imperative for Pakistan to eliminate any domestic safe havens for militants to ensure national security.