By: Zubaida
Pakistan’s military on Friday accused Afghanistan-based militant groups of launching cross-border attacks, further straining relations between the two neighboring countries.
At a news conference, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), claimed that insurgents have been using Afghan soil to stage terrorist activities in Pakistan despite repeated warnings to the Taliban government in Kabul.
“The Pakistani military strongly condemns the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups and their supporters,” General Chaudhry said. “We remain resolute in our determination to eliminate these hideouts and protect the people of Pakistan.”
He presented evidence of alleged terrorist sanctuaries within Afghanistan. He criticized the Taliban administration for failing to act decisively against militant groups, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad considers a major threat to its security.
While the Taliban has denied harboring the TTP, a United Nations monitoring report estimated earlier this year that the group has roughly 6,000 fighters stationed in Afghanistan.
These allegations come as bilateral tensions intensify. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently called on the Taliban to stop supporting the TTP, describing cross-border attacks as “unacceptable” and warning that such actions risk undermining regional stability.
“The Taliban’s dual approach to the TTP crosses Pakistan’s red line, and Islamabad will not remain silent,” Prime Minister Sharif said, urging the Afghan leadership to dismantle militant networks.
The situation escalated earlier this week when Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province, targeting what it described as TTP hideouts. According to Taliban officials, the strikes killed 46 people, including women and children, and injured six others in a district hosting refugees from Pakistan’s Waziristan region.
The escalating violence reflects mounting security challenges in the region. As Pakistan faces a resurgence of militant activity in its northwest, its uneasy relationship with the Taliban-led government in Kabul continues to complicate efforts for regional peace.
