Pakistan’s military establishment is pointing fingers at India, accusing it of using Afghanistan as a “base of operation for terrorism” on Pakistani soil amid rising security concerns. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, made this claim during a press conference in Peshawar, highlighting the security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan have escalated following Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps. These strikes coincided with the Taliban Foreign Minister’s visit to India, causing unease in Pakistan as India strengthens its ties with Afghanistan.
During the briefing, the DG ISPR attributed the surge in militancy in KP to various factors, including the non-implementation of the National Action Plan and the politicization of terrorism. He emphasized the alleged involvement of India in using Afghanistan as a terrorist base and blamed the crisis on the supply of modern weapons to terrorists in Afghanistan, left behind by the US forces after their withdrawal in 2021.
The Pakistani military spokesperson emphasized Pakistan’s demand for ensuring that Afghan soil is not utilized by non-state actors and terrorist groups. He mentioned engaging with Afghanistan directly and through allied countries to address the issue, highlighting the presence of various non-state actors in Afghanistan with no clear affiliations.
The recent Pakistani airstrike near Shahid Abdul Haq Square in Kabul aimed to target TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, though Mehsud later claimed he was unharmed. The attack followed a warning by Pakistan’s Defence Minister in the National Assembly, expressing frustration over the use of Afghan territory by militants and urging Afghan refugees to return home to end the cycle of violence.
Pakistan’s timing of the strikes appears strategic, sending a message to both the Taliban and India as the latter strengthens its diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. The high-level meetings between Taliban officials and Indian authorities signal a shift in India-Afghanistan ties post the Taliban’s takeover.