Pakistan Responds to Taliban Defense Minister’s Remarks
Following sharp criticism from Mullah Yaqoob, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Defense, over Pakistan’s handling of militant groups, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a response, describing the remarks as “sarcastic.”
Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said at a press briefing: “It seems like a joke,” directly referring to the Taliban defense official’s statement that accused Islamabad of being unable to address security threats.
He added that the main problem lies in the presence of militant sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, stating: “I want to reiterate that the sanctuaries of terrorists, particularly the menace of Khawarij, in Afghanistan are a serious issue.”
The Pakistani spokesperson once again urged the Taliban administration to take concrete action against terrorist hideouts on Afghan soil. For years, Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgents plan their attacks from Afghanistan.
These reactions come as the Taliban authorities have consistently denied the presence of extremist groups in Afghanistan, a claim that does not align with regional and international security concerns.
