Islamabad – Indian media outlet CNN-News18, citing Afghanistan’s Minister of Tribal and Border Affairs, reported on Friday that he “issued a direct warning to Pakistan,” signaling rising tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Taliban officials are reportedly “openly confronting Islamabad over the TTP issue,” raising concerns of border militarization and potential proxy conflict escalation.
Analysts note that this pattern has been consistently amplified across Indian media. Reflecting on previous instances, they argue that “such loud and provocative remarks do nothing for Afghanistan’s stability; they only bring smiles to Indian faces, as New Delhi enjoys watching tensions grow deep between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
In October 2025, several Indian media outlets highlighted a series of threatening statements by Afghan officials. The Hindu reported Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi warning that while Afghanistan “preferred a peaceful approach,” if diplomacy failed, the country had “other means” to respond. The New Indian Express cited Afghan Taliban Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayat Khowarazmi saying Afghan forces were fully prepared to defend national borders and would deliver a “strong response” if Pakistan violated Afghan territorial integrity. The Indian Express similarly reported Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid cautioning that “any future border violations by Pakistan would be met with a strong counter-reaction.” Indian run Punjab Today News, covering Muttaqi’s visit to New Delhi, reiterated that Afghanistan sought “zero tension” but had “alternative options” should Pakistan fail to reciprocate peace efforts.
Pakistan maintains that its stance is consistent and lawful. Officials emphasize that Afghan territory must not be used to host or support terrorist groups like the TTP. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded that Afghanistan “dismantle terrorist networks, hand over senior leaders, and provide a written assurance that such threats will not continue,” stressing that these measures comply with UN resolutions and international law without infringing on Afghan sovereignty.
Security analysts say the statements reported by Indian media serve little to promote stability and may align with Indian strategic interests, which benefit from regional instability. Analysts argue that Indian media selectively amplifies threats from Afghanistan toward Pakistan while ignoring evidence of terrorist sanctuaries under Taliban control.
A senior Pakistani security source criticized the provocative messaging, noting that “a few Afghan second-tier officials are irresponsibly adding fuel to the fire by making threatening statements against Pakistan, even though their own negotiating team once again refused to take real, concrete steps at the final stage of peace talks.”
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Critics also highlighted India’s role in fuelling tensions. Analysts said India “thrives on regional chaos” and continues “its old dirty game by backing an extremist Taliban regime, not out of sympathy for Afghans, but simply to keep Pakistan destabilized.” Pakistani officials have repeatedly warned the Afghan Taliban to govern independently, yet Afghan leaders’ growing alignment with India has become more pronounced, including statements from Taliban’s foreign minister echoing India on Kashmir, which remains a disputed territory under United Nations resolutions.
Observers also pointed out India’s double standards, noting that it frequently labels Pakistan a “terror sponsor” while “conveniently ignoring UN and SIGAR reports confirming that Afghanistan under Taliban control is harbouring terrorist sanctuaries.” Analysts said this exposes India’s “hollow moral claim and deep hypocrisy,” lecturing others on terrorism while quietly nurturing ties with groups providing safe havens to militants.
Pakistan has reaffirmed its position, asserting that it will “take every necessary step to defend its borders and its people regardless of how uncomfortable that makes India or its supporters in the region.” Officials stressed that while dialogue remains essential, “peace cannot rest on words alone,” and enforceable action against cross-border militancy is crucial for lasting security.
