Taliban Rejects Pakistan’s “Proxy War for India” Claim Amid Border Clashes

Afghanistan’s Taliban government has strongly denied Pakistan’s accusation that it is fighting a “proxy war” for India. The rejection comes after a week of deadly border clashes between the two nations. A ceasefire is now in place following talks in Doha.

Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, made the original claim in a media interview. He suggested the Taliban was acting on behalf of India during recent military engagements. According to Reuters, the fighting resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides.

Afghan Defence Minister Issues Firm Denial

Afghan Defence Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid called the accusations baseless. He stated that Afghanistan’s foreign relations are guided solely by national interest. The minister gave his interview to Al Jazeera.

Mujahid emphasized that Afghanistan has never allowed its territory to be used against another country. He warned that such false claims only complicate diplomatic issues. The minister is the son of the Taliban’s late founder, Mullah Omar.

Ceasefire Holds After Series of Clashes

The border conflict escalated rapidly after explosions in Kabul on October 9. Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for the initial attacks. Kabul then launched a retaliatory border offensive.

Pakistan responded with its own military strikes. Islamabad claimed it was targeting armed groups given safe haven by the Taliban. Two separate ceasefire agreements were needed to halt the violence. The final truce was approved on October 19.

The recent border conflict underscores the fragile state of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. The Taliban’s firm denial of a proxy war with India aims to shut down a long-standing regional narrative. Both sides now face the challenge of making the new ceasefire last.

Thought you’d like to know

What started the recent Afghanistan-Pakistan clashes?

The immediate trigger was a series of explosions in Kabul on October 9. Afghanistan blamed Pakistan for these attacks. This led to a retaliatory border offensive from the Afghan side.

Who facilitated the ceasefire talks?

The talks were held in Doha, Qatar. They were facilitated by both Qatar and Turkiye. This external mediation helped broker the truce.

How many people were killed in the border fighting?

Dozens of people were killed on both sides. The clashes involved both military personnel and civilians. Exact casualty figures remain difficult to verify independently.

What is the main point of disagreement between the two countries?

Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. The Taliban consistently denies providing safe haven to these groups. This fundamental dispute remains unresolved.

Has the ceasefire stopped the fighting completely?

The latest ceasefire was approved on October 19. It followed an initial 48-hour truce that was breached. The current agreement appears to be holding for now.