Pakistan Rejects Afghan Taliban Claim of Pakistani Forces’ Presence in Badakhshan

Islamabad (Terror Monitor) — Pakistan’s Ministry of Information has rejected as “baseless” a claim by Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid that Pakistani military personnel were involved in recent clashes in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province.

The Pakistani government’s response came after Mujahid claimed that anti-Taliban armed groups had entered Badakhshan through Pakistan’s Chitral district and that some Pakistani military personnel were allegedly accompanying them.

Afghan news outlet Amu TV shared a video of Mujahid’s recent interview on its official X account, quoting the Taliban spokesman as alleging that Pakistani forces were supporting armed groups opposed to the Taliban in Badakhshan.

According to the post, Mujahid claimed that anti-Taliban armed groups had received support from Pakistan and alleged that members of the armed opposition had previously operated alongside Pakistani forces in Badakhshan.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information rejected the allegations, saying no credible evidence had been presented to substantiate the claims.

In a statement, the ministry said the unrest and fighting in Badakhshan were the result of Afghanistan’s internal problems and had no connection with any alleged Pakistani intervention.

The ministry further said that available reports from independent sources indicated that the recent clashes in Badakhshan resulted from fighting between Taliban forces and local armed groups opposed to the Taliban administration.

Pakistan urged the Taliban authorities to focus on addressing Afghanistan’s internal security challenges rather than blaming neighboring countries for domestic unrest.

Islamabad reiterated that it has consistently supported a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and has no interest in destabilizing its neighboring country.

“Rather than blaming Pakistan for Afghanistan’s internal problems, the Taliban government should address the growing challenges arising from failures in its governance,” the ministry said.

The ministry added that allegations made without evidence could not replace facts.

The latest dispute comes amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly over security issues and allegations concerning militant activity along their shared border.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of allowing militants, particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks against Pakistan. The Taliban administration has rejected such allegations.

Islamabad has maintained that stability in Afghanistan is essential for regional security and has called on Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by groups carrying out attacks against Pakistan.

Pakistan has rejected the Taliban spokesman’s allegations that Pakistani personnel were involved in the fighting in Badakhshan or that anti-Taliban fighters entered the province through Chitral with Pakistani military support.