Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob has outlined the Taliban government’s position on tensions with Pakistan in a recent interview with TOLO News. He said the Afghan government prefers resolving disputes through dialogue and has taken part in several mediation efforts in recent years.
According to Yaqoob, countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey and later Saudi Arabia helped facilitate talks between Kabul and Islamabad. He said Afghanistan was willing to provide written assurances that its territory would not be used against any country, especially Pakistan. In return, Kabul expected similar guarantees from Pakistan.
However, Yaqoob claimed the talks stalled when Pakistan tried to expand the scope of the dispute. He said Pakistan raised the issue of formally recognizing the Durand Line as an international border, which Afghanistan rejected.
Taliban Claims Dialogue Efforts and Defensive Response
In the interview, Yaqoob also accused Pakistan of using trade restrictions, border closures and pressure on Afghan refugees as political tools. He said such actions created further tensions between the two countries.
Furthermore, he claimed that during talks mediated by Saudi Arabia, the Taliban released three Pakistani prisoners as a goodwill gesture during the month of Ramadan. According to him, Pakistan later carried out air operations, which he described as the start of the military escalation.
Yaqoob insisted that the Taliban response was defensive and that Kabul did not initiate the conflict. At the same time, he said Afghanistan is not against the people or political parties of Pakistan. Instead, he criticized what he described as the policies of Pakistan’s military leadership.
He also added that the Taliban government remains open to serious mediation and negotiations. However, he warned that if attacks on Afghanistan continue, Kabul also has the ability to respond.
Pakistan Points to Cross-Border Terrorism
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have rejected the Taliban’s claims and say the real issue is the presence of militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
According to security sources, several international reports have highlighted the presence of fighters linked to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities say hundreds of attacks in the country since 2021 have been linked to networks operating across the border.
Recently, a suicide attack in Miranshah once again brought attention to the issue. Reports suggested that the attacker was a young boy, raising concerns about extremist groups recruiting and influencing minors.
Pakistani officials say the country has paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism and cannot allow cross-border sanctuaries to continue. Analysts believe that easing tensions will require practical steps and trust-building measures from both sides.
