A gathering of over 1,000 Afghan religious scholars, political figures, and clerics was held at Kabul University on Wednesday, where they issued a joint declaration calling on the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure that, based on the order of the Supreme Leader, no one is allowed to travel abroad for military activities.
The scholars emphasized that no individual will be allowed to use Afghan soil against other countries, and if anyone violates this decision, the Afghan Taliban regime has the right to take action against them. A resolution was also adopted at the gathering, stating that anyone who violates these decisions would be declared a “rebel.”
On paper, this appears to be a clear endorsement of Pakistan’s long-standing position and an acknowledgment of Islamabad’s diplomatic stance. However, the real test lies ahead. For Pakistan, the key question remains: will the Taliban finally honor their commitments, or is this yet another recycled promise? True regional stability, secure borders, and economic potential will only materialize if Kabul moves from statements to verifiable action.
Meanwhile, groups including ISIS-Khorasan, Al-Qaeda, TTP, ETIM, BLA, and Majeed Brigade continue to exploit Afghan territory. Dozens of terrorist camps in Afghanistan are facilitating cross-border attacks, suicide operations, and other violent incidents, posing a serious security challenge for Pakistan.
While it has been stated that Afghans will not travel abroad for military activity and will be punished if they do, this has been said before. The declaration does not specifically address Taliban affiliates and BLA operating in Pakistan, using Afghan soil.
The joint declaration, therefore, represents a symbolic step toward addressing Pakistan’s concerns, but whether it will translate into concrete action remains uncertain.
Afghan media extensively covered the gathering, framing it as an important development in Afghanistan’s political and security strategy. Yet the effectiveness of the declaration will ultimately be measured by tangible enforcement and the Taliban’s willingness to curb cross-border militancy.
Recent statements from Russia, China, Iran, the United Nations (UN), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), and various Central Asian states indicate a growing alarm over the resurgence of militant activity in Afghanistan. These nations have expressed serious concern that terrorist organizations such as ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are once again operating freely from Afghan soil, posing a direct threat to regional peace and stability.
