By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday accused Afghanistan’s Taliban regime of failing to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan, urging Kabul to take verifiable action against what Islamabad described as terrorist sanctuaries.

In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Information Ministry, Islamabad rejected remarks by the Afghan Taliban’s spokesperson, accusing the administration of diverting attention from security concerns rather than addressing allegations of militant activity originating from Afghanistan.

“Attempts to shift attention towards Pakistan’s internal affairs cannot conceal the regime’s failure to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan,” the ministry said.

The statement cited a report by the United Nations Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which estimated that approximately 6,000 fighters belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were present in Afghanistan and reported support from the Taliban authorities for the group.

The report, identified as document S/2025/796, was cited by Islamabad as evidence supporting its concerns about the TTP’s presence in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the TTP of using Afghan territory as a base for attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians. 

Islamabad also criticised the Taliban regime over its restrictions on girls’ education and what it described as violations of fundamental human rights, arguing that the authorities’ statements on governance and citizens’ rights were inconsistent with their own policies.

Despite the tensions, Pakistan said it remained committed to dialogue with Afghanistan, while insisting that progress depended on the Taliban authorities meeting their counterterrorism commitments.

“Meaningful progress requires the Afghan Taliban regime to honour its counterterrorism commitments and take verifiable action against terrorist sanctuaries and support networks,” the statement said.

Pakistan added that it would take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law, to protect its citizens, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“The responsibility to end the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan rests squarely with the regime,” the ministry said.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained by repeated security incidents and mutual accusations over militant activity along their shared border. The TTP’s presence in Afghanistan remains a major point of contention between Islamabad and the Taliban administration.