'Stop Baseless Allegations': Afghanistan Slams Pakistan Over Security Claims
The Taliban administration hits back at Pakistan, citing over 1,100 civilian casualties and urging Islamabad to fix its own internal security.
The diplomatic rift between Kabul and Islamabad has widened further as the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan issued a sharp rebuke to Pakistan, demanding that the neighboring country stop making "baseless allegations" and instead focus on resolving its own internal security failures. The tension comes amidst a backdrop of escalating cross-border hostilities and a mounting toll of civilian casualties.
Civilian Toll: Women and Children Hit Hardest
In a revealing interview with CNN, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shed light on the human cost of the ongoing regional instability. According to Balkhi, the violence has disproportionately affected non-combatants.
He revealed a staggering statistic: since early 2022, 1,119 civilians have been killed or injured in attacks. Balkhi emphasized that the vast majority of these victims are women and children, noting that hundreds of casualties occurred at a rehabilitation center.
A Call for Internal Accountability
Addressing Pakistan's persistent claims that militancy is operating from Afghan soil, Balkhi urged Islamabad to pivot away from finger-pointing. He suggested that Pakistan's security challenges are domestic issues that require a different approach.
"Instead of making baseless allegations, Pakistan should address its security challenges through responsible engagement with its own people and genuine diplomacy with Afghans," Balkhi asserted.
Escalating Hostilities and Airstrikes
The relationship between the two nations has plummeted to a new low, characterized by recurring cross-border clashes. The Taliban administration has consistently condemned the Pakistani military for incursions that target residential areas.
Recent reports from Tolo News highlight the severity of these operations. Last month, Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan resulted in deaths and injuries in Kunar province, where three people were killed. Similar strikes were also reported in Paktika province, further adding to the civilian casualty count.
Political Firestorm: Mujahid vs. Sharif
The friction is not limited to military skirmishes but has extended to high-level political rhetoric. Recently, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid launched a scathing attack on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following the latter's remarks regarding terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mujahid accused the Pakistani authorities of:
- Prioritizing propaganda to mask their own failures.
- Sabotaging ongoing negotiation processes.
- Ignoring the root causes of Pakistan's political, social, and economic crises.
Mujahid argued that blaming Afghanistan for Pakistan's internal instability would not provide any real solutions and warned that Pakistan's ongoing challenges have negative implications for the stability of the entire region.
The Deadlock
As it stands, the two neighbors remain locked in a cycle of mutual accusation. While Pakistani authorities continue to demand that Kabul take decisive action against militant groups, Afghan officials maintain that these claims are unfounded, urging Islamabad to look inward to find the solutions it seeks.