Pakistan has rejected allegations by former US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad that Islamabad is arming Afghan nationals to fight the Taliban and associated militant groups. The government described the claims as baseless and misleading, insisting that Pakistan’s security operations focus on protecting its citizens.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a response through its fact-check account on social media platform X on October 24. Officials accused Khalilzad of repeating speculative claims and presenting an account that, in their view, supported the Afghan Taliban government.
Pakistan Clarifies Its Counterterrorism Position
The ministry said critics should not confuse Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations with allegations of recruiting Afghan nationals or sponsoring armed groups inside Afghanistan. It maintained that security operations target militant organisations operating from areas under Taliban control that threaten Pakistan.
Furthermore, the ministry highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices in combating terrorism and protecting regional peace. Officials said the country continued to face security challenges linked to militant groups operating across the Afghan border.
The statement also referred to successive United Nations monitoring reports documenting the continued presence and activities of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda inside Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly urged Afghan authorities to prevent militant organisations from using Afghan territory to launch attacks against its citizens.
Islamabad Challenges Claims About Afghan Militants
Khalilzad, who previously served as the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, had raised claims about Pakistan allegedly supplying weapons to Afghans opposing the Taliban. He also referred to reports suggesting that Pakistan was recruiting Afghan nationals to fight anti-Pakistan insurgents.
Pakistan rejected these assertions and argued that they lacked credible supporting evidence. The ministry further alleged that such claims diverted attention from the Afghan Taliban government’s responsibility to prevent militant groups from operating against Pakistan.
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have faced persistent tensions over cross-border militancy and security concerns. Pakistan continues to call for effective action against armed groups, while allegations concerning regional security remain a source of diplomatic friction.
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