Pakistan Warns Afghanistan Over Cross-Border Militancy

Pakistan has warned the Afghan Taliban that terrorism is a red line and national security cannot be held hostage to the regime's inaction, following a sharp exchange of accusations between the two neighbours.

Official Statement

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday night, Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accused the Afghan Taliban leadership of refusing to address militancy originating from Afghan soil. The Ministry stated that Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary steps under international law to wipe out cross-border security threats, regardless of where they come from. Officials criticized Kabul for shifting the blame onto Islamabad and making empty assurances instead of tackling the core issue of terrorist sanctuaries.

Taliban Response

The statement was issued in reply to comments made by Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid during an interview with Hurriyat Radio on Saturday. Mr. Mujahid claimed that Islamabad lacked the willingness to resolve differences through talks and blamed Pakistan's flawed policies for the ongoing conflict. He also maintained that Afghanistan was not responsible for the counter-terrorism problems raised by Pakistan.

Context

Tensions have remained high between Pakistan and Afghanistan due to long-standing disputes over militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan launching attacks from across the border. While Islamabad frequently accuses Kabul of letting terrorists use its territory, the Afghan Taliban has consistently rejected these allegations and claimed that Afghan soil is not used against other nations.