Islamabad’s claims that India was involved in the recent border confrontations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been categorically denied by Kabul. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Afghanistan’s defense minister, Muhammad Yaqoob, called the accusations “unfounded, illogical, and unacceptable,” claiming that Afghanistan’s foreign policy is determined by its own national interests.
The late Mullah Omar’s son, Yaqoob, emphasized that Afghanistan’s stance does not include utilizing its land against any other nation. He reiterated Kabul’s goal to maintain its relationship with Pakistan based on good neighborliness and respect for one another while fortifying ties with India as a sovereign country.
“The charges are unfounded. As the peace deal with Pakistan depends on mutual commitment and non-interference, Yaqoob said, “Our goal is to foster cooperation, not confrontation.” In order to stop more infractions, he also recommended that Qatar and Turkey help with the agreement’s implementation and oversight.
Shortly after explosives shook Kabul during Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India, which was seen as important given New Delhi’s cautious involvement with the Taliban administration, tensions between Kabul and Islamabad rapidly increased on October 11. Deadly cross-border violence resulted from the Taliban’s efforts along the southern border after the incident.
Both sides had civilian casualties and relocation as a result of the fighting, and the closure of the Torkham and Chaman border crossings seriously hampered everyday travel and trade. Islamabad pledged to respond forcefully to the Taliban’s actions, which it termed as provocative.
The Afghan Taliban are accused by Pakistan’s government on numerous occasions of giving safe havens to militant organizations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which are said to operate freely from sanctuaries within Afghanistan. Kabul has continuously refuted these allegations, arguing that the border dispute has gotten worse due to Pakistan’s own bombings and provocations.
The two neighbors’ relations were further strained when Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, said that the Taliban leaders were “sitting in India’s lap” and fighting a “proxy war” on New Delhi’s behalf.
According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Randhir Jaiswal, India has flatly denied Pakistan’s allegations, calling them an extension of Islamabad’s long-standing practice of assigning blame. He listed three important points: Pakistan still harbors terrorist groups, accuses its neighbors of causing internal unrest, and is incensed by Afghanistan’s claim to sovereignty.
Jaiswal rejected Pakistan’s charges as politically driven and untrustworthy, restating India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
India has made slow efforts to restore diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime, albeit not formally acknowledging it. Senior representatives from the various foreign ministries have met on a number of occasions, indicating a hesitant attempt to reestablish confidence and resume discussions on topics of shared interest, such as humanitarian aid and regional stability.