Pakistan, Afghanistan Trade Accusations Over Militant Activity

Pakistan has urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government to take verifiable action against militants it asserts are operating from Afghan territory, while also denying Kabul’s claims that Islamabad is shifting blame for its own security failures. The Pakistani Information Ministry also rejected allegations that it was arming Afghans to fight the Taliban or recruiting them to combat anti-Pakistan insurgents, remarks that came after former U.S. envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad cited reports of such activities.

The exchanges reflect heightened tensions between the two nations concerning militant activity, frequent border clashes, and Pakistani airstrikes within Afghanistan. These issues have exacerbated a long-standing dispute over responsibility for cross-border violence.

Last month, Afghanistan stated that its forces had killed 28 fighters and apprehended 32 others, including alleged members of the Islamic State group, who had reportedly crossed from neighboring Pakistan. Pakistan consistently accuses Kabul of harboring the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP), the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, an affiliate of the global extremist network. The TTP is distinct from, but allied with, Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban.

In response to Pakistan's demands, the Afghan Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that Kabul is not responsible for insecurity within Pakistan. He accused Pakistani military and security agencies of deflecting blame when unable to maintain domestic security, asserting that Kabul has neither the interest nor the capability to destabilize Pakistan or finance unrest elsewhere.

The Pakistani Information Ministry countered that these assertions do not address documented security concerns, citing attempted cross-border infiltrations, the deaths of Afghan nationals and militants during Pakistani counterterrorism operations, and the recovery of foreign-origin weapons as matters requiring investigation. According to the ministry, a U.S. report covering January through March 2026 estimated the strength of the Pakistani Taliban at 4,000 to 6,000 fighters.

Pakistan is currently engaged in multiple operations against militants near the Afghan border, with the Information Ministry clarifying that these measures target militant threats, not the Afghan people. The ministry urged the Taliban government to cease any tolerance, facilitation, or support for militant organizations, including the TTP and BLA, and to prevent Afghan territory from being used to plan or launch attacks against Pakistan.

Militant violence in Pakistan has increased in recent years, with the TTP and BLA frequently blamed. Pakistani authorities contend that many TTP leaders and BLA insurgents have found refuge in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in 2021, an allegation Kabul denies. Pakistani officials report that over 2,800 militant attacks have occurred across Pakistan since January, resulting in the deaths of 3,000 people, primarily in the northwest and Balochistan province.