A recent audio message attributed to a senior militant leader has reinforced Pakistan’s long-standing claim that terrorist activity inside the country has links beyond its borders. The directive, which reportedly urges militant commanders to stop recruiting and deploying foreign fighters in Pakistan, is being seen as a tacit admission that Afghan nationals have been involved in militancy on Pakistani soil.
Security analysts say the message indirectly validates Islamabad’s repeated concerns, which Kabul has often dismissed as an internal Pakistani issue. The development comes amid strained relations between the two neighbours and heightened regional scrutiny over cross-border terrorism.
Militant Leader Warns Against Using Foreign Fighters
According to reports, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, head of the banned Ittehadul Mujahideen Pakistan, issued the instruction in an audio message circulated among his cadres days ago. The message was first highlighted by The Khorasan Diary.
In the recording, Gul Bahadur reportedly warned his commanders to avoid recruiting and deploying foreign fighters, especially Afghans, for operations inside Pakistan. He cautioned that violating this order would lead to serious consequences.
Observers say such instructions are unusual and revealing. They suggest an acknowledgment within militant ranks that the presence of foreign fighters has drawn unwanted attention and pressure. The message appears to contradict Kabul’s repeated position that militancy in Pakistan is a domestic problem with no external involvement.
Islamabad’s Long-Standing Concerns Resurface
Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership has consistently maintained that many terrorist attacks inside the country are planned or supported from Afghan territory. Officials have pointed to the movement of militants across the porous border as a major security challenge.
This issue has remained a key point of tension between Islamabad and Kabul. It has also triggered several border skirmishes over the past year. In October last year, Pakistan closed major crossing points along the Pak-Afghan border after accusing militant groups of exploiting Afghan soil to launch attacks.
The latest directive from Gul Bahadur is being viewed in Islamabad as further proof of Pakistan’s position. Analysts argue that if foreign fighters were not involved, such warnings would not be necessary.
Pressure on Afghan Taliban and Regional Implications
The timing of the audio message is also significant. It comes as the Afghan Taliban face growing international pressure to ensure that Afghan territory is not used to threaten other countries.
Last month, a council of religious scholars in Kabul issued a decree pledging that Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against any foreign nation. That announcement followed an earlier statement by Afghan Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who made similar assurances.
However, Pakistani officials have repeatedly said such statements have not translated into concrete action on the ground. Militancy inside Pakistan has continued, particularly in border regions.
Security experts believe Gul Bahadur’s message reflects pressure exerted by Afghan Taliban authorities on militant factions with ties across the border. They say the warning aims to reduce international scrutiny and avoid further diplomatic fallout.
Despite the directive, Pakistan continues to stress that meaningful cooperation is needed. Islamabad has urged Kabul to take decisive steps against militant sanctuaries and restrict the movement of fighters.
As regional tensions persist, the audio message has added a new layer to an already complex security landscape. For Pakistan, it strengthens the argument that cross-border militancy remains a serious and unresolved threat.
