By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Sunday rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that Islamabad was involved in recent violence in Afghanistan’s eastern Nuristan province, calling the claims “baseless” and saying there was no evidence linking Pakistani security agencies to the incident.

The statement by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting came after Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said its forces had killed 28 fighters and wounded 32 in Nuristan following an alleged cross-border infiltration. Kabul alleged that the group included Islamic State militants and former Afghan government security personnel who had received support from Pakistani militias.

Pakistan categorically denied involvement by its military or intelligence agencies, including allegations that it had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel or facilitated Islamic State or other militant groups operating in Afghanistan.

The ministry said Kabul had produced no identities, documents, communications, forensic evidence or independent verification to substantiate the allegations.

Pakistan also dismissed a video circulated on social media as evidence of its involvement, saying it showed only a small number of unarmed individuals being detained and alleging that the footage appeared to have been staged. 

Pakistan's Information Ministry said the presence and activities of militant organizations in Afghanistan have been documented in reports by the United Nations and other international organizations. It argued that allegations against Pakistan should not distract from what it described as the continued presence of militant groups on Afghan territory.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of allowing the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghanistan and launch attacks against Pakistan. Kabul has repeatedly denied the allegations.

The dispute comes amid a sharp deterioration in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and renewed cross-border fighting.

Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan earlier this week, saying it targeted militant hideouts. Islamabad said the strikes killed 28 militants.

Pakistan's Information Ministry urged the Taliban authorities to take what it called “credible and verifiable” action against militant organizations operating from Afghan territory and to honor commitments that Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against Pakistan or other countries.

It also accused the Taliban administration of using allegations against Pakistan to deflect attention from internal security challenges and restrictions affecting women, children and minorities.

The latest exchange of accusations comes as regional efforts involving China, Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia seek to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.