In a sharp rebuttal to Islamabad’s accusations, Afghanistan has denied any Indian involvement in the recent clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, calling Pakistan’s claims “baseless, illogical, and politically motivated.” Taliban Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid asserted that Afghanistan has “never allowed its territory to be used by another nation” against a third country, stressing that Kabul’s ties with India are “independent and based on mutual respect.”
The statement came after Pakistan accused India of backing the Taliban in cross-border attacks that left several Pakistani soldiers dead. Tensions between the two neighbours have escalated in recent weeks following heavy fighting across border outposts and mutual allegations of airspace violations. Pakistan’s Defence Ministry had earlier termed the violence a “proxy operation,” hinting at India’s alleged support to Afghan forces; a charge Afghanistan categorically dismissed.
Analysts see Islamabad’s claims as an attempt to externalize internal security failures amid growing instability along the Durand Line. With over 58 Pakistani soldiers reportedly killed in recent Afghan operations, fears of a regional escalation loom large. Kabul’s latest denial underscores its intent to maintain neutrality and avoid entanglement in South Asia’s enduring India-Pakistan rivalry.
