A senior local official in Afghanistan has issued a strong public warning against Afghans going to fight in Pakistan, declaring such actions religiously forbidden and punishable under the law.
The police chief of Daimirdad district in Wardak province said no one is permitted to go and fight in Pakistan and that doing so without the Amir’s permission is “haram”.
In a statement, the official said anyone who goes to fight across the border would be committing an illegitimate act adding that their “jihad” would not be recognized and their death would be considered a “haram death”.
He warned that if such a person is killed, Afghan authorities would not allow funeral prayers or any condolence ceremonies to be held.
The police chief said Afghanistan has agreements with other countries, including commitments made in the deal with the United States under which Afghan soil would not be used against any country or its allies.
“Going to fight in Pakistan is not permissible because we have an agreement with those countries,” he said.
He also announced strict administrative and legal action against anyone found violating the order. According to the statement, youths from madrassas or government jobs who go to fight abroad will be dismissed from their posts, jailed and punished under the law.
Authorities warn of strict punishment for violators
The unusually blunt warning comes at a time of heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over cross-border militancy. Pakistani authorities have repeatedly said that Afghan nationals have been involved in recent attacks inside Pakistan and that Afghan soil is being used to plan such operations.
The Wardak police chief’s remarks appear to be aimed at discouraging any such movement and enforcing discipline through both religious and legal pressure, including the denial of social and religious rites to those who defy the order.
Similar Fatwas and statements issued in the past
This is not the first time Taliban authorities and affiliated clerics have issued such warnings. In December 2025, around 1,000 Taliban-aligned ulema issued a joint fatwa declaring cross-border fighting forbidden and saying that waging war in other countries without official permission was not legitimate jihad.
In the past months, several Taliban leaders and officials have also made public statements saying Afghan soil would not be used for attacks against other countries and urging Afghan youth not to join conflicts abroad.
Despite these repeated declarations, Pakistan has continued to raise the issue at diplomatic and regional forums saying the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorism inside Pakistan is a matter of record and remains a serious security concern.
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