Pakistan hits back at Khalilzad over Afghan militant claims

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected allegations by former US special envoy to Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected allegations by former US special envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad that Islamabad is arming Afghans to fight the Taliban and militant groups, describing the claims as baseless and misleading.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry said Khalilzad’s remarks relied on speculation and misrepresented Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy. It accused the former US diplomat of promoting a narrative that diverted attention from the Afghan Taliban government’s responsibility to prevent militant groups from operating on Afghan soil.

The statement followed a post by Khalilzad on social media platform X, in which he alleged that Pakistan was arming Afghans to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. He also claimed that the Pakistani military was recruiting Afghans to combat anti-Pakistan insurgents.

Rejecting the allegations, the ministry said Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations against militant organisations operating from areas under the Afghan Taliban’s control should not be confused with claims of recruiting Afghan nationals or supporting armed groups inside Afghanistan.

It maintained that Pakistan remained committed to combating terrorism and had made significant sacrifices to safeguard regional peace and security.

The ministry also referred to United Nations monitoring reports documenting the continued presence and activities of militant organisations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan.

According to the ministry, Khalilzad’s allegations shifted attention away from concerns over militant groups operating from Afghan territory and the Taliban administration’s responsibility to address the threat. It described his claims as unsubstantiated and driven by a particular agenda.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside its territory and called on the authorities in Kabul to take effective action against them. The Afghan Taliban administration has rejected allegations that it allows Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan.

Islamabad maintains that the threat extends beyond cross-border movement by militants. Pakistani officials have also raised concerns about alleged training facilities, weapons supplies and operational support available to armed groups operating from Afghan territory.

According to figures cited by Pakistani authorities, terrorism linked to Afghan soil claimed 1,327 lives in Pakistan during 2026 and left another 2,484 people injured.

Pakistani officials have further alleged that the Afghan Taliban administration has failed to dismantle militant infrastructure and prevent cross-border infiltration. Islamabad has argued that the threat is not limited to the TTP, pointing to the presence of other militant organisations in Afghanistan.

United Nations assessments have also documented the presence of several militant groups in the country, including Al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and Islamic State-Khorasan. Their continued presence has contributed to regional concerns about the security situation in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has called on the Afghan authorities to take verifiable measures against militant sanctuaries, dismantle training facilities and prevent armed groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks across the border.

The government maintains that the issue is directly linked to Pakistan’s national security and requires concrete action rather than denials. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to honour its commitments and ensure that Afghan soil is not used by militant organisations to threaten Pakistan.

The latest exchange highlights continuing tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban administration over cross-border militancy, with both sides maintaining differing positions on the sources of the security threat.