Pakistan Deputy PM Criticizes Former ISI Chief's "Costly Cup of Tea" Visit for Escalating Taliban Security Crisis

Nov 06, 2025 05:55 pm CST

Pakistan's Defense Minister Ishaq Dar has publicly criticized former ISI Chief General Faiz Hameed's 2021 visit to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan as a "costly cup of tea" that allowed 35,000-40,000 Taliban fighters to re-enter Pakistan. This diplomatic misstep has escalated security concerns as Pakistan prepares for talks with Afghanistan in Istanbul following recent cross-border conflicts and ceasefire negotiations.