Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has criticised recent remarks by an Afghan Taliban spokesperson, saying they fail to address the security concerns behind worsening relations between Islamabad and Kabul. The ministry maintained that the continued presence of militant groups in Afghanistan and their alleged use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan remain major obstacles to improving bilateral ties.
In a statement issued in Islamabad, the ministry described the Afghan spokesperson’s comments as misleading and rejected claims that Pakistan’s policies were responsible for the strained relationship. It said the Afghan leadership was overlooking what Islamabad considers the central issue: preventing militant organisations from operating from Afghan soil and carrying out attacks inside Pakistan.
The ministry stressed that the Afghan Taliban government must recognise its responsibility to prevent its territory from being used for activities targeting Pakistan. It said cross-border terrorism remained a major barrier to restoring normal relations and urged Kabul to take effective measures against militant networks.
Pakistan also reiterated that it reserved the right to take necessary steps to address threats to its national security. The statement described terrorism as a red line and emphasised that the protection of Pakistani citizens and territory could not be compromised.
The ministry further rejected what it called repeated accusations and unfulfilled assurances from the Afghan Taliban leadership. It warned that delays or a failure to meet commitments on security matters would continue to affect relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The latest statement comes amid ongoing tensions over Islamabad’s concerns about militant groups allegedly operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly called on Kabul to take concrete action to prevent cross-border attacks, while disagreements over security responsibilities continue to complicate diplomatic relations.
