Diplomatic efforts may still be underway to seek rapprochement between Pakistan and the Taliban regime, but prospects are very slim. Tensions have been simmering between Islamabad and Kabul for several months. At the heart of their troubled ties is the presence of banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups on Afghan soil. Despite repeated demands and a series of diplomatic manoeuvres as well as other leverages exercised by Pakistan, there is no end to the cross-border terrorist attacks.

Since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in August 2021, there has been a phenomenal increase in the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Official data shows more than 3,900 Pakistanis, including soldiers, officers, police personnel and civilians lost their lives since August 2021. Even for a while if one ignores Pakistan's stance, the numbers speak for themselves.

The TTP clearly felt emboldened and was trying to replicate in Pakistan what the Afghan Taliban did in their backyard. Yet, despite this irrefutable evidence, the........

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