Lashkar-e-Taiba Leader Threatens to Side with Pakistani Army Over Taliban’s Cross-Border Policy
Qari Mohammad Yaqub Sheikh, a senior figure in the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, has warned that if the Taliban administration fails to provide clear assurances that Afghan territory will not be used to launch attacks against other countries, the group will align itself with the Pakistani army.
He welcomed a new fatwa reportedly issued by the Taliban prohibiting the use of Afghan soil for cross-border attacks, calling it a positive step. However, he stressed that issuing a fatwa alone is not sufficient and it must be fully implemented on the ground.
These remarks come amid growing regional concerns about the activities of armed groups operating in various parts of Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power. The Taliban authorities have repeatedly sought to dismiss or downplay such concerns.
Critics argue that the Taliban’s lack of transparency and accountability has eroded the trust of neighboring countries and heightened the risk of Afghanistan becoming a flashpoint for regional security rivalries—a development that could have serious consequences for the Afghan population.
