Pakistan rejects Taliban claims of involvement in Nuristan violence

The Ministry of Information on Sunday rejected allegations by the Afghan Taliban regime linking its security forces and intelligence agencies to violence in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province, calling the claims “frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth”.

“Pakistan categorically rejects the fabricated claims of involvement by its security forces or intelligence agencies in any internal clashes in Nuristan or elsewhere in Afghanistan, including allegations of recruiting or training former Afghan security personnel or facilitating Daesh or any other terrorist group operating in Afghanistan,” said the ministry in a statement.

The statement came in response to allegations levelled by the Afghan Taliban’s Ministry of Defence, which claimed that groups affiliated with Daesh, along with what it described as “elements of subversion”, had crossed the Durand Line into Nuristan’s Kamdesh district with the support of Pakistan. The ministry claimed that its security forces had killed 28 of the alleged infiltrators and captured 32 others, while the remaining fighters fled back across the Durand Line.

The ministry further responded to the allegations, stating that not a shred of evidence had been produced to substantiate Pakistan’s involvement

“There were no identities, documents, communications, forensic evidence or independent verification to support the allegations,” it said.

The statement also rejected a video being circulated on social media to support the false claim, saying that it “only shows a few unarmed individuals who are not even properly dressed or equipped.’

 

 

The ministry described the footage as appearing to be “a pre-planned video shoot by the Afghan Taliban regime well known for lies and fabricated claims”.

The fact-check graphic attached to the post carried the text, “Afghan Defence Ministry claims arrest of Pakistani military personnel and fighters in Nuristan.” It marked the claim as “false and fabricated” and displayed a document by the Afghan Ministry of Defence dated September 27.

The ministry said the presence and activities of terrorist groups inside Afghanistan were “well documented”, including in successive reports by the United Nations and other international organisations.

Read: ‘Irrefutable evidence’ links Afghan soil to terror attacks in Pakistan

“Attempts to manufacture a Pakistani connection cannot obscure the reality that these terrorist groups continue to find sanctuary and a permissive environment for growth in Afghan territory,” it said.

“It is particularly ironic for the Afghan Taliban regime to accuse Pakistan of supporting terrorism while terrorist organisations operating from Afghanistan continue to pose a direct threat to Pakistan and regional security,” the ministry added.

“Instead of externalising responsibility for its internal security challenges through fanciful allegations, the Afghan Taliban regime should take credible and verifiable action against terrorist organisations operating from its territory,” the ministry said.

It also called on the Afghan authorities to fulfil their commitments that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country, “rather than attempting to deflect responsibility through fabricated accusations”.

The statement further added that the allegations were “reflective of lies to externalise internal dissent and oppression of women, children and minorities”.

This is not the first time the Afghan Taliban regime has levelled allegations against Pakistan. In the past, it has accused Pakistan of facilitating infiltration, carrying out airstrikes and smuggling weapons into Afghanistan, allegations that Islamabad has repeatedly rejected.

According to security officials, the Afghan Taliban regime has been providing sanctuary, support and patronage to terrorist groups. They said documented evidence contradicted Kabul’s repeated denials and pointed to an entrenched terrorist network operating from Afghan soil.

Pakistan maintains that the terrorist nexus extended beyond the movement of terrorists across the border to their training, arming and operational support.

Read more: Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism, Pakistan tells UN

Security officials estimate that up to 70 per cent of the Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists infiltrating Pakistan were of Afghan origin. They further claim that the Taliban regime had allowed leftover US and NATO weapons to reach terrorist groups, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

In 2026 alone, terrorism emanating from Afghan soil claimed the lives of 1,327 Pakistanis and injured another 2,484, according to figures cited by Pakistani authorities.

The United Nations estimated the strength of TTP in Afghanistan at around 6,000 to 6,500 terrorists. UN reporting had also documented more than 600 terrorist attacks against Pakistan during 2025, including attacks launched from Afghan territory.

According to Pakistani security officials, the TTP had established training facilities in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika provinces.

The government has maintained that the issue was fundamentally one of Pakistan’s national security and that continued attacks from Afghan soil cannot be addressed through denials alone.

Pakistan says it expected the Taliban regime to fulfil its commitments by taking verifiable action against terrorist groups operating from its territory rather than defending or denying their presence.