Pakistan accuses Taliban of facilitating attacks by Pakistani militants on civilians
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Monday (4 Aqrab) that attacks by Pakistani militants based on Afghan soil are being planned under the supervision and with the active support of the Taliban administration. In a statement, the ministry added that thousands of Pakistani civilians have been killed as a result of these attacks, and that Pakistan cannot remain indifferent to repeated attacks against its civilians and security forces.
Islamabad has described its airstrikes inside Afghanistan as a response to terrorist attacks and as falling within the framework of self-defence. The reaction came after comments by the Taliban foreign ministry spokesman in an interview with an American media outlet, where Abdul Qahar Balkhi claimed that more than 1,000 civilians had been killed in Pakistani strikes over the past four years; a claim that the United Nations has also partially confirmed.
However, Pakistan’s foreign ministry dismissed those claims as unsupported by evidence and misleading, stressing that such narratives cannot obscure the Taliban’s responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks on Pakistan. Pakistan said it carries out its strikes out of necessity and as a last resort against terrorist groups and their bases, and that it follows the principles of distinction and precaution in these operations.
According to the statement, in 2026 alone, planned attacks launched from Afghan soil into Pakistan have resulted in more than 3,500 deaths. Pakistan also accused the Taliban of sheltering terrorist groups such as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Baloch Liberation Army and their affiliates, describing them as a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
Islamabad called on the international community to hold the Taliban administration accountable for violating its international commitments and failing to stop Afghanistan from being used as a base for terrorist attacks. Pakistan also stressed its right to take any necessary measures to preserve its sovereignty and ensure the security of its citizens.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, which have a long history, centre in particular on insecurity in Pakistan and the activity of Pakistani armed groups on Afghan soil. The Taliban have repeatedly denied such a presence and have said Pakistan’s security problems are the responsibility of the Islamabad government.
On the other hand, the Pakistani army responds with repeated airstrikes on areas in Afghanistan that it says are safe havens for terrorist groups, although the Taliban and the United Nations say civilians are the victims of these strikes.
In the wake of these tensions, the Taliban have launched attacks on Pakistani border posts, and military clashes along the Durand Line have intensified. The border between the two countries has also been fully closed and trade ties suspended.
