Accusing Pakistan of harbouring ISIS militants, Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration has warned of a military response to recent Pakistani airstrikes.
The warning came after Pakistan carried out overnight strikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar and southeastern Paktika provinces. Pakistani officials have maintained that the strikes were intelligence-based and aimed at dismantling hideouts of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ISIS-linked fighters allegedly operating from Afghan territory against Pakistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with Al Arabiya English, said any response from Kabul would be military in nature but did not disclose details. He accused Pakistan of targeting civilians rather than militants.
Islamabad has repeatedly stated that it does not target civilians and that its operations are directed against groups responsible for attacks on Pakistani soil.
The Taliban denied that TTP militants are present in Afghanistan and described Pakistan’s security challenges as internal matters. Mujahid said Afghanistan does not allow its territory to be used against any country.
Pakistan, however, has long argued that TTP leaders and fighters have taken refuge across the border since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Islamabad says it has shared evidence of militant activity and has urged Kabul to take effective action.
In the interview Mujahid also accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to ISIS militants, allegations that Pakistani authorities have consistently rejected.
Despite rising tensions, Mujahid described Afghanistan and Pakistan as “close neighbors with shared interests,” but stressed that Islamabad should focus on its own security challenges rather than blaming Kabul.
“Pakistan’s internal security issues are its own. They should resolve them without harming relations, as that only affects both countries and the wider region.”
