Taliban counters Pakistan: ‘We don’t fight India’s proxy war’

Afghanistan’s Taliban government dismissed Pakistan’s claim that India fueled the recent border clashes between the two neighbors. The Taliban called the allegations “baseless” and accused Islamabad of trying to shift blame for its internal failures.

The statement came days after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif told local media that the Taliban was “fighting a proxy war” on behalf of India. His remarks stirred sharp reactions in Kabul, where officials called them “irresponsible and misleading.”

Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, son of Taliban founder Mullah Omar, rejected the charges during an interview with Al Jazeera. “These claims are baseless,” Yaqoob said. “Afghanistan has never allowed its soil to be used against any country. We act according to our national interests, not under anyone’s influence.”

He stressed that Kabul’s relations with both India and Pakistan rest on mutual respect and sovereignty. “We maintain ties based on national interest. Accusations like these damage trust and complicate the situation,” he said.

The strong rebuttal followed deadly border clashes that killed dozens on both sides. The violence erupted on October 9 after explosions in Kabul that Afghan authorities blamed on Pakistan. Within days, Afghan forces retaliated with heavy fire along the border, prompting Islamabad to issue threats of a “strong response.”

Fighting continued for a week, displacing families near the frontier. After days of tension, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on October 19 following talks in Doha. Qatar and Turkiye facilitated the dialogue that produced the truce.

However, the ceasefire came only after multiple failed attempts. On October 15, the two sides had announced a temporary 48-hour truce, but Pakistani strikes resumed two days later. Islamabad said it targeted armed groups allegedly using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. Kabul denied that claim, saying Pakistan was violating its sovereignty under the pretext of counterterrorism.

Yaqoob said Pakistan must stop blaming others for its domestic problems. “Pakistan’s internal instability has nothing to do with Afghanistan. Instead of accusing us, they should focus on their own issues,” he said.

Taliban officials also pointed to past cooperation between the two countries. They said Afghanistan had maintained dialogue despite provocations and expected the same commitment from Islamabad. “We want peace and stability in the region. War benefits no one,” a Taliban spokesperson said in Kabul.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s foreign ministry continued to accuse the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistan militants. Islamabad claims groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operate from Afghan territory. Kabul insists it does not support such groups and that Pakistan uses them as a “political excuse.”

Regional mediators, including Qatar and Turkiye, urged restraint and dialogue. Diplomatic sources in Doha said both sides showed willingness to maintain calm but lacked mutual trust.

As tensions cool under the ceasefire, uncertainty remains along the volatile border. Both governments continue to exchange words, while residents on either side brace for another flare-up.

The latest dispute highlights a deepening mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul, even as both claim to seek peace and stability in the region.