In the aftermath of the recent border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spokesperson of the Interim Afghan Government (IAG), Zabiullah Mujahid, held a press conference on 12 October 2025, which aimed to deflect the mounting criticisms facing the Taliban regime. In a tirade laced with accusations, Mujahid blamed Pakistan for a series of events that have caused friction between the two nations. Among these were claims of Pakistan’s security forces destroying Afghan posts and allegedly martyring 58 Afghan security personnel. What Mujahid failed to acknowledge, however, was the Taliban’s own responsibility in perpetuating instability in the region, especially by harboring and facilitating the growth of terrorist groups that target Pakistan and other neighboring states.
Mujahid’s accusations serve as yet another example of a well-worn strategy employed by the Taliban to deflect blame for their internal failings by shifting responsibility to Pakistan. As history shows, whenever the Taliban is confronted with criticism or the consequences of its actions, it tends to scapegoat Pakistan, accusing it of fomenting instability within Afghanistan, while conveniently ignoring its own role in exacerbating security issues. The narrative from Kabul, in this instance, appears to be no different.
One of the most glaring contradictions in Mujahid’s speech was his claim of “full border control.” On the surface, it would appear that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has finally managed to secure its borders and quell the transnational security threats that emanate from its soil. However, the reality of the situation is far from the ideal presented by Kabul. Afghanistan remains the largest safe haven for transnational terrorist organizations, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Al-Qaeda, and others. Despite repeated assurances from the Afghan government that it would take action against these groups, Kabul has failed to act decisively.
In fact, Pakistan has shared concrete evidence with Kabul on multiple occasions, including precise coordinates of over 60 terror camps located in Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Yet, Kabul has not only failed to dismantle these camps but has also allowed them to grow under the supervision of Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). In addition to providing sanctuary to these groups, Kabul’s continued inaction exposes its complicity in the cross-border terrorism that plagues Pakistan.
One of the most troubling aspects of this situation is the direct involvement of the Afghan government in supporting these groups. For instance, TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, who has been responsible for orchestrating a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, continues to reside in Kabul, protected by the Afghan regime. It is reported that he receives a monthly stipend of $43,000 from Kabul, further suggesting that the Afghan government’s tacit support for the TTP is not a matter of negligence, but one of deliberate state-backed terrorism against Pakistan.
Moreover, Afghanistan’s complicity in fueling cross-border terrorism is further underscored by the fact that 80% of the militants infiltrating Pakistan are Afghan nationals. These militants are not merely passersby they are part of a coordinated network that uses Afghan soil as a launchpad for attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians. The infiltration of Afghan nationals into Pakistan has escalated dramatically in recent years, with a significant number of these militants being armed with sophisticated weaponry, much of it left behind by NATO and US forces. The Taliban, despite controlling Afghanistan, has failed to stop these weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. In fact, weapons such as M16 rifles, M4 carbines, night-vision devices, and thermal optics, which were once part of the NATO inventory, are now being used against Pakistani forces. These arms were sold by Afghan commanders to terror groups, further proving that Afghanistan’s military infrastructure has become a conduit for terrorism.
In 2025, the situation worsened, with three of the six terrorists involved in an attack on the Frontier Constabulary Headquarters in Bannu being Afghan nationals, including the suicide bomber. This attack was only one of many, and it is part of a larger pattern where Afghan nationals have been directly implicated in terrorist activities within Pakistan. In fact, over 200 Afghan nationals have been killed in terrorist incidents in Pakistan in the past year alone. This stark reality undermines Mujahid’s rhetoric about Afghan soil not being used for terrorism. His claims fall apart in the face of the documented evidence that links Afghan nationals to attacks inside Pakistan.
The situation on the ground in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is particularly dire. This region, which shares a porous border with Afghanistan, has borne the brunt of cross-border terrorism. The province has witnessed staggering casualties over the past two years, with more than 350 law enforcement personnel martyred in 2024 alone, and the toll continued to rise in 2025. Additionally, more than 200 civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks in the same period. Despite these harrowing statistics, Mujahid continues to propagate the narrative that Afghanistan is in control of its borders, a claim that fails to hold any weight in the face of these numbers.
The situation in Balochistan has also seen a surge in terrorist activities. The killing of two high-profile commanders of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in Afghanistan in 2025 further highlights the transnational nature of the terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. The Afghan government, instead of taking responsibility for providing safe havens to such groups, continues to deflect blame. Mujahid’s allegations against Pakistan particularly the accusation that ISIS-K operatives are sheltered on Pakistani soil are particularly absurd, considering the well-documented presence of ISIS-K leaders and their cells in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar, Kunar, and Kabul regions. These groups have been responsible for several attacks within Afghanistan itself, and yet Mujahid seeks to divert attention away from Kabul’s failures.
The broader regional context also needs to be considered when evaluating the Taliban’s rhetoric. Zabiullah Mujahid’s accusations coincided with the visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India. This timing is no coincidence. The simultaneous diplomatic outreach to India, coupled with Afghanistan’s continued military aggression along the Pak-Afghan border, suggests a coordinated effort to destabilize Pakistan. While Kabul’s political leadership speaks of peace in international forums, its actions at home tell a different story. Afghanistan continues to harbor and support anti-Pakistan elements, not only undermining its credibility but also jeopardizing its long-term stability.
[Image (cropped) credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
Dr. Patrick Austin holds a PhD in International Politics from the University of London, specializing in terrorism and counterterrorism affairs with a focus on South Asian security dynamics. Dr. Austin has worked with prominent policy institutions such as the Centre for South Asian Studies, the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, and the South Asia Institute.
