Kabul and Islamabad Clash Over Presence of Armed Groups in Afghanistan

Tensions continue to rise between Kabul and Islamabad over security issues, as the Taliban administration has rejected Pakistan’s claims regarding the presence of “terrorist” groups in Afghanistan, a key point of contention between the two sides.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, called on Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states to pressure the Taliban to fulfill their commitments to combating “terrorism” and eliminating militant group safe havens in Afghanistan. He emphasized that the threat emanating from Afghan territory is one of Islamabad’s most serious security challenges.

In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban administration spokesman, said on Friday (August 23) that Pakistan should not attribute its internal problems to the Taliban administration. He claimed that insecurity in Pakistan has deep-rooted causes unrelated to the Taliban’s rule.

Mujahid also asserted that the Taliban remain committed to preventing the use of Afghan soil against other countries and would not allow the territory to be used against any nation. He once again denied the presence of any “terrorist groups” in Afghanistan.

This comes amid multiple reports from international organizations highlighting the presence and activities of paramilitary groups in Afghanistan—a persistent regional security concern since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.