Taliban Accuses Pakistan’s Military of Fueling Tensions with Afghanistan

In a statement released on November 8, 2025, in Kabul, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Zabihullah Mujahid, accused elements within the Pakistan Armed Forces of pursuing “anti-Afghanistan policies” and fomenting tensions through “manufactured pretexts.”

The remarks were issued under the title “Remarks by the Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate Concerning Recent Developments and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)”.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Mujahid contended that certain Pakistani military factions view a strong, stable Afghanistan as contrary to their interests:

“Unfortunately, certain military elements in Pakistan appear to perceive a strong central government in Afghanistan, along with stability, security, and development, as contrary to their interests.”

He added that these elements had, for years, exploited Afghanistan's instability, conflicts, and displacement — and now seem intent on creating fresh tensions.

Historical Context and the TTP

Mujahid’s statement sought to push back against assertions linking the Taliban’s return to power in 2021 with the resurgence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He argued that both “insecurity in Pakistan” and the emergence of the TTP stretched back to 2002 — as a consequence of misguided Pakistani military policies, including alignment with the U.S., drone strikes in Waziristan, and the alienation of local populations.

He referenced a sequence of Pakistani military operations — including Operation Al-Mizan, Operation Rah-e-Rast, Operation Sher Dil, Operation Nijat, Operation Koh-e-Safid, and Operation Zarb-e-Azb — pointing out how these operations had led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians and resulted in casualties of 80,000-90,000 military personnel and civilians, based on Islamabad’s own figures.

By framing it this way, Mujahid aimed to portray the current faults as home-grown to Pakistan’s internal security and policy failures — rather than as consequences of Afghanistan’s change in governance.

Afghanistan’s Stance on Sovereignty and Refugees

The Afghan statement emphasised that the Islamic Emirate has taken steps since 2021 to uphold regional stability. These steps include:

• Facilitating dialogue among tribal, political, and religious figures.

• Relocating tribal refugees away from the contentious Durand Line border region, and banning weapon possession among refugee populations.

• Issuing religious edicts (fatwas) forbidding individuals to engage in foreign jihad operations without authorisation.

• Offering to facilitate the safe return of refugees to their homes, while insisting it will not allow Afghan territory to be used for interference in another country’s affairs.

Mujahid stressed:

“The Islamic Emirate warmly welcomes any efforts and measures that enable these refugees to safely return to their homes. At the same time … the Islamic Emirate continues to consider itself responsible for ensuring that no one uses its territory to interfere in the affairs of another country, and it will take necessary steps to prevent such actions, God-willing.”

Breakdown of Talks & Rising Tensions

The statement comes on the heels of a deadlock in talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan held in Istanbul on 6-7 November 2025, mediated by Turkey and Qatar. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced there were “no plans for a fourth round” of negotiations.

Key points from this phase:

• The Afghan delegation said they participated “in good faith and with appropriate authority,” expecting Pakistan to engage seriously and constructively.

• The IEA accused Pakistan of trying to shift responsibility for security entirely onto Kabul while refusing to assume any of its own.

• Afghanistan’s Minister for Tribes, Borders & Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, warned Pakistani officials “not to test the patience of Afghans,” cautioning against over-confidence in technology and noting that “both the elders and youth of Afghanistan will rise to fight” if challenged.

Implications: What’s at Stake

Regional Stability:
The two neighbours share a long and disputed border along the Durand Line. With mutual accusations escalating, the risk of military confrontation or cross-border escalation looms large. Afghanistan’s reaffirmation of its duty to defend its land and citizenry signals its readiness to respond to any external aggression.

TTP and Cross-Border Militancy:
Pakistan maintains that the TTP — a militant group based in Pakistan’s tribal areas and aligned with the Afghan Taliban — uses Afghan territory as a sanctuary. Kabul counters that the TTP issue predates the Taliban’s takeover and is Pakistan’s internal security problem. The disagreement here remains a major stumbling block to any lasting peace.

Refugees and Humanitarian Dimension:
The displacement of tribal populations due to past Pakistani military operations continues to influence border dynamics, local allegiances, and security on both sides. Afghanistan emphasises its willingness to see refugee returns, but hints at responses if its territory is misused.

Diplomatic Channels vs. Blame Game:
The breakdown of Istanbul talks indicates a shift from negotiation to hardened rhetoric. Unless either side softens its stance, there is a danger of a protracted stalemate or further confrontation. The Afghan side emphasised its desire to cooperate “within limits” of its capabilities and responsibilities.

Concluding Thoughts

The statement by Zabihullah Mujahid marks a clear escalation in messaging by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — a direct rejection of Pakistani claims, a reassertion of Afghan sovereignty, and a warning against interference. By placing blame on specific “elements within the Pakistani military,” Kabul signals that the issue lies not with Islamabad’s civilian leadership, but with its security establishment that, in Afghanistan’s view, benefits from persistent instability.

In the immediate term, this rhetorical standoff risks hardening attitudes on both sides of the Durand Line, threatening border security and regional cooperation. For Pakistan, the challenge is to contain the TTP insurgency and demonstrate good faith diplomacy. For Afghanistan, the task is to balance international legitimacy with national pride and sovereignty.

How this evolving confrontation unfolds will significantly shape South Asia’s security calculus, testing both countries’ ability to prevent historical grievances from igniting a new front of conflict.