Taliban sees Pakistan as terrorist threat

A spokesperson for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, under the Taliban-led government, has accused Pakistan of being the source of a significant terrorist threat, countering recent statements made by Pakistani officials.

The comments were made by Hafiz Zia Ahmad, who dismissed claims from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an attempt to mislead public opinion about Afghanistan's security and economic situation, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

According to Ahmad, the assertions made by Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, are "far from reality" and serve only to obscure the truth. "The problems and threats that he attributes to Afghanistan are more likely to originate from Pakistan," Ahmad stated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Ahmad also emphasized that the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan has "completely suppressed" the activities of the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS). The statement is part of an ongoing exchange between the two neighbouring countries, as they grapple with security challenges and mutual accusations.

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been heightened by concerns over cross-border terrorism and instability. The Taliban government, which took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, has faced criticism from Pakistan and other nations for allegedly harboring militants. In contrast, the Taliban maintains that it has taken significant steps to neutralize terrorist threats within its borders.

One of the core issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan is the Durand Line, the 2,640-kilometer border drawn by British colonial rulers in 1893. Afghanistan has historically disputed this border, leading to periodic tensions.

Over the years, Pakistan has facilitated peace talks between the Taliban and the US, leading to the Doha Agreement in 2020. Despite these efforts, relations have remained strained, particularly after the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, which saw the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government.