Pakistan has rejected the Afghan Taliban administration's assertion that Afghanistan neither has the capacity nor the intention to destabilise Pakistan, describing Kabul's remarks as diversionary and urging the authorities to address Islamabad's longstanding security concerns. The response came in a statement from Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued on Saturday and reported on Sunday 25 October 2026, as the dispute over cross-border militancy continued to sour relations between the two neighbours.

What Islamabad said

According to the ministry, blaming Pakistani security agencies would not absolve the Afghan Taliban administration of its responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan. The statement said Pakistan's concerns were not based on conjecture, citing assessments by the United Nations and the United States regarding the presence and activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan. It added that a US report stated the Afghan Taliban continued to allow the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory, and estimated the group had between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters.

Why the row matters

Islamabad argues that the Taliban's alleged support for the TTP, and the greater freedom the group enjoys, has contributed to an increase in attacks against Pakistan, and that repeated attempts by armed militants to infiltrate across the border warrant serious scrutiny. Kabul, for its part, has denied that its soil is used to launch attacks. The exchange is the latest in a series of public disputes since Pakistan began pressing the Taliban administration for what it calls verifiable action against groups operating from Afghan soil. With border security, trade and regional diplomacy all entangled in the row, neither side shows sign of backing down.