Islamabad, November 21, 2025 – Pakistan has formally closed all border crossings with Afghanistan and halted bilateral trade after what it describes as the Afghan regime’s continued support for the Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan and their linked militant networks, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Friday.
During the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Andrabi stated that responsibility for the delay in reopening border points lies squarely with the Afghan Taliban. He reiterated that Kabul must end all support to extremist outfits operating against Pakistan.
The latest decision comes as part of a broader shift in Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy. After years of diplomatic engagement and attempts to influence developments across the border, Islamabad has now moved to a “wait-and-see” approach, distancing itself from the idea of mediating or managing Afghanistan’s internal challenges.
Senior officials familiar with the policy shift say Pakistan is now “comfortable stepping back,” especially after consistent frustration with the Afghan Taliban’s failure to act against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Despite repeated high-level visits and security dialogues, Kabul has shown no visible willingness to curb the group responsible for recent deadly attacks in Pakistan.
“We realized we were expending energy without any real results,” one senior official said, adding that Pakistan will no longer carry expectations on behalf of Afghan authorities.
Officials also highlighted that international perceptions have evolved. The world no longer views Pakistan as synonymous with the Afghan Taliban—a narrative Islamabad has long rejected. For years, global pressure had placed Pakistan at the center of Afghanistan’s crises, from counterterrorism to governance issues.