By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for “subversive activities,” calling the claim baseless and accusing Kabul of attempting to divert international attention from militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said Afghanistan was already holding large quantities of weapons and military equipment left behind following the withdrawal of US and coalition forces, in addition to extensive stocks of Soviet-era weapons accumulated during decades of conflict.

“The Afghan Taliban regime’s claim that weapons are being smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan for so-called ‘subversive activities’ is frivolous, baseless and contrary to established facts,” the ministry said in a statement.

The latest exchange highlights continuing tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban authorities in Kabul, particularly over allegations that militant groups are using Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan.

Pakistan argued that there is no need to look to Pakistan to explain the availability of weapons inside Afghanistan.

According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Afghanistan inherited an estimated $7.2 billion worth of sophisticated weapons and military equipment after the withdrawal of US and coalition forces.

The ministry also pointed to large quantities of Soviet-era weapons that have accumulated in Afghanistan through decades of war.

The statement said these existing stockpiles provide a significant source of weapons inside the country and rejected what it described as efforts to create a Pakistani connection to such arms.

The Pakistani government said the Taliban authorities' allegations appear intended to shift international attention away from what Islamabad considers a more serious and documented security concern: the continued presence of militant groups on Afghan soil.

“Attempts to manufacture a Pakistani connection to such weapons seems designed to divert international attention from the far more serious and documented concern,” the ministry said.

Pakistan accused militant organizations operating from Afghanistan of receiving space, facilitation and operational freedom to plan, support and execute attacks against Pakistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns about the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan considers a major security threat.

Pakistan has accused the group of using Afghan territory to organize attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians. The Taliban authorities have repeatedly denied allowing Afghan soil to be used against other countries.

Pakistan called on the Taliban authorities to address what it described as “terrorist sanctuaries” inside Afghanistan.

The ministry said Kabul should fulfill commitments it has repeatedly made that Afghan territory would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.

“Rather than resorting to implausible accusations and blame-shifting, the Afghan Taliban authorities must address the presence of terrorist sanctuaries on their territory,” the statement said.

Islamabad also called on Kabul to honor its assurances that Afghanistan would not become a base for attacks against neighboring states.

The dispute reflects one of the central problems in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021.

Relations between the two neighboring countries have deteriorated significantly over the issue of cross-border militancy.

Pakistan maintains that militant groups based in Afghanistan have carried out attacks inside Pakistan and demands that Kabul take action against their leadership and infrastructure.

The Taliban government rejects accusations that it allows militant groups to use Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.