A senior Afghan Taliban leader and Deputy Minister of Interior, Mawlawi Muhammad Nabi Omari, has delivered a harsh warning to Pakistan, stating that Afghan forces and tribes could pursue Pakistani troops “up to the Indian border” if they are perceived as invaders.
The highly provocative statement comes amid a significant spike in tensions and deadly cross-border clashes along the disputed Durand Line, which recently led to the worst fighting between the two nations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
‘You Will Not Find Safety’
Addressing the Pakistani military directly, Omari’s warning was unequivocal. According to a report by CNN-News18, he said, “If the Afghan tribes and nation once declare you an invader by religious decree, I swear by God, you will not find safety even up to the Indian border.”
Omari also launched a sharp verbal attack on Islamabad’s civilian and military leadership, criticizing what he termed a lack of independent decision-making. He cited a controversial video of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking to President Donald Trump, saying the Pakistani military regime “does everything according to others’ wishes.”
In a clear hint at potential irredentist claims, the Minister also suggested that the escalating conflict could eventually lead to territorial changes. He stated that “the current situation indicates that areas beyond the Durand Line which were once lost by Afghanistan may eventually return to Afghan territory.”
Ceasefire Reached in Doha
The fiery rhetoric follows a week of intense fighting that claimed the lives of dozens of troops and civilians on both sides. Kabul had earlier accused Islamabad of violating a 48-hour ceasefire, which temporarily halted the clashes. Pakistan had reportedly conducted airstrikes targeting militant hideouts in Afghan border areas, which the Taliban claimed killed civilians, including three Afghan cricketers.
However, in a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following talks hosted by Qatar in Doha. Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that both countries accepted the immediate truce and committed to follow-up meetings to ensure the “sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation.”
The deep-rooted tensions are primarily fueled by Pakistan’s demand that the Taliban government crack down on militant groups, such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), allegedly operating from Afghan soil. The Taliban, which has never recognized the colonial-era Durand Line, denies harboring militants and accuses Pakistan of spreading misinformation and violating Afghan sovereignty.