Taliban official says they are ready to ease tensions if Pakistan acts

A senior Taliban official has said that they are prepared to take additional steps to reduce tensions with Pakistan if Islamabad makes an initial move, as cross-border clashes continue.

“If Pakistan takes one step, we will take two steps forward,” the head of the Taliban’s chief minister’s office, Abdul Wasi, said during a meeting with Richard Lindsay, the UK special envoy for Afghanistan, according to a Taliban statement on Wednesday.

The meeting was held at the presidential palace in Kabul on Tuesday and focused on tensions between Taliban and Pakistan, as well as humanitarian and political issues, the statement said.

Abdul Wasi said the Taliban seek to end tensions and strengthen “friendly relations” with Pakistan, while emphasizing what he described as the right to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and population.

He also condemned recent Pakistani strikes in Asadabad, the center of Kunar province in the east, saying residential areas and a university were targeted. Attacks on civilians, particularly women and children, “have no justification,” he said.

He called on countries involved and international organizations to establish the facts and identify those responsible for the escalation.

According to the statement, Lindsay expressed condolences over casualties from the recent violence and said tensions should be reduced through confidence-building measures by both sides.

He said continued conflict would have negative consequences for both sides and stressed the need for “political will” to resolve disputes.

The two sides also discussed Afghan migrants in Pakistan. The Taliban official acknowledged Pakistan’s decades-long hosting of Afghan refugees but called for their rights to be respected, the statement said.

Humanitarian aid was also discussed. Abdul Wasi official said they had not created obstacles to aid deliveries and urged Pakistan to facilitate the process.

The meeting comes as tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have persisted for more than two months, marked by periodic border clashes.

Pakistan carried out strikes in parts of Kunar province on Monday, April 27. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has said dozens of civilians were killed or wounded in the attacks. Local health officials said seven people were killed and 78 others were wounded.

Since border clashes escalated on Feb. 26, crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained closed to passengers and commercial traffic.

Delegations from both sides held weeklong talks in China earlier this month, but the discussions did not lead to a reduction in tensions.