The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has firmly denied Pakistan’s assertions that India was involved in the recent violent border confrontations that left people dead on both sides. A truce brokered by Qatar and Turkey on October 19 finally put an end to the fighting.
The response comes right after Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, said in an interview with local media that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was “fighting a proxy war” for India.
Taliban: Claims are False, Relations Based on National Interest
Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghanistan’s Defense Minister, denied the claims and said that Kabul’s foreign policy is only based on its own interests.
Mujahid said in an interview with Al Jazeera, which was shared by Afghanistan broadcaster RTA:
“These claims have no basis. Afghanistan has never let anyone else use its land against them.” Our relations with India and Pakistan are based only on what is best for our country.”
Mujahid, the son of the late Taliban leader Mullah Omar, said again that these kinds of claims do not help to ease tensions along the border. “Pakistan’s claims are false and not backed up by facts.” He went on to say, “These accusations are not true, are not acceptable, and will only make the problem worse.”
A timeline of the border conflict
The most recent wave of warfare between the two countries started on October 9 when there were explosives in Kabul. The Taliban regime said Pakistan was to blame. Afghanistan launched a retaliatory border offensive two days later, on the weekend of October 11-12. This made Islamabad pledge a robust retaliation.
On Wednesday, October 15, a 48-hour ceasefire was proclaimed in the battle after both troops and civilians were slain. But on October 17, further Pakistani strikes targeted Afghanistan. Islamabad said the operation was legal because it was aimed at armed organizations that the Taliban allegedly protected and helped to strike Pakistan, a claim that Kabul has always disputed.
After negotiations in Doha, Qatar, and Turkiye helped the two sides agree on a second, more stable truce on Sunday, October 19.