Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Taliban Warns Pakistan of Crushing Response to Afghan Strikes
The Taliban controls Afghanistan and has warned Pakistan not to attack inside the country.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan would defend itself against Pakistani strikes.
He called any such attack a violation of Afghan sovereignty.
Pakistan says militant groups use Afghan territory to recruit, train, and launch attacks against Pakistan.
The Taliban denies allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate from Afghan soil.
Mujahid said Pakistan should deal with its own security problems.
Relations between the two countries have worsened since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Their tensions have also included weeks of fighting earlier this year.
Mujahid said the countries should use dialogue, intelligence-sharing, and possible Saudi mediation to resolve their differences.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned Pakistan against military operations inside Afghanistan.
Mujahid said Afghanistan would defend its sovereignty and deliver a “crushing response” to any Pakistani strikes.
Pakistan alleges that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan members use Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks.
The Taliban rejects the allegations and says Pakistan should address its security challenges internally.
Mujahid called for dialogue, stronger intelligence-sharing, bilateral cooperation, and greater Saudi mediation.
- Who
- The Taliban, represented by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, and Pakistan.
- What
- The Taliban warned of a forceful response to any Pakistani military operation inside Afghanistan and rejected accusations that it shelters militants.
- When
- The warning was made in an interview with Al Arabiya English amid deteriorating relations since 2021.
- Where
- The dispute concerns Afghanistan, Pakistan, and militant activity along their shared border.
- Why
- Pakistan accuses Afghan-based militant groups of launching attacks in Pakistan, while the Taliban denies the allegations and says Pakistan should address its internal security challenges.
Taliban's Position
Pakistan's Allegations
Militant activity
Taliban's Position
The Taliban denies allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or other armed groups to operate from Afghan territory and says unrest involving the TTP and Baloch groups predates its return to power.
Pakistan's Allegations
Pakistan alleges that militant groups use Afghan territory to recruit, train, arm, and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Cross-border military action
Taliban's Position
The Taliban says Pakistani strikes would violate Afghanistan's sovereignty and that Kabul has the right to defend its territory with a strong response.
Pakistan's Allegations
Pakistan's security concerns about attacks originating from Afghan territory are the dispute's stated basis for raising the possibility of military action.
Resolving the dispute
Taliban's Position
The Taliban favors dialogue, stronger intelligence-sharing, bilateral cooperation, and a larger Saudi Arabia role in mediation.
Pakistan's Allegations
Pakistan's stated focus is preventing militant groups from using Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan.
- Taliban spokesperson
- Zabihullah Mujahid
- Threatened response
- A “crushing response” to any violation of Afghan sovereignty
- Pakistan's allegation
- Militant groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, use Afghan territory to recruit, train, and launch attacks
- Taliban's position
- It rejects the allegations and says it does not permit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan to operate from Afghan soil
- Recent relations
- Relations have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and escalated into weeks of war earlier this year
- Proposed diplomacy
- The Taliban called for dialogue, stronger intelligence-sharing, bilateral cooperation, and a greater Saudi Arabia role in mediation
- Afghans leaving Pakistan
- More than 2.5 million Afghans have been expelled or left Pakistan over the past three years, according to United Nations data
