Pakistan’s Information Ministry has dismissed former US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s allegations that Islamabad is arming Afghan nationals to fight the Taliban and recruiting Afghans against anti-Pakistan insurgents.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN – WEB DESK: Pakistan on Saturday rejected allegations by former US special representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad that Islamabad was arming Afghan nationals to fight the Taliban and recruiting Afghans to counter anti-Pakistan insurgents, describing the claims as “baseless and misleading”.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued its response through its fact-check account on X, a day after Khalilzad raised the allegations publicly.
Khalilzad, who served as the US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation during the first Trump administration, said there had been reports that Pakistan was arming Afghans to fight the Taliban inside Afghanistan. He also referred to reports that Pakistan’s military was recruiting Afghan nationals to fight groups hostile to Pakistan.
Pakistan denies supporting armed groups inside Afghanistan
In its response, the Information Ministry said Khalilzad’s allegations relied on speculation and portrayed them as an attempt to support the Afghan Taliban government.
The ministry also rejected what it described as an attempt to link Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations with claims that Islamabad was recruiting Afghan nationals or sponsoring armed groups inside Afghanistan.
It said Pakistan’s operations targeted militant organisations operating from areas under Taliban control that threaten Pakistani citizens.
The ministry maintained that Pakistan had made significant sacrifices in its efforts to combat terrorism and protect regional security. These statements reflect the Pakistani government’s position on the allegations; the claims about recruiting and arming Afghans have not been independently established in the reporting reviewed
Islamabad raises concerns about militant groups in Afghanistan
The ministry also referred to United Nations monitoring reports, saying they had documented the continued presence and activities of militant organisations, including the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda, inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about militant attacks on its territory and has called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to prevent Afghan soil from being used by groups targeting Pakistan.
The ministry argued that Khalilzad’s allegations diverted attention from what Islamabad describes as the Taliban government’s responsibility to address the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan. Its further claims concerning India-backed proxies were also part of the government’s statement and should be understood as allegations made by Pakistan, rather than independently established findings in this report.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remain tense
The exchange comes amid continuing tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over cross-border militancy and security operations.
Pakistan has accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of carrying out attacks inside its territory, while the Afghan Taliban authorities have rejected accusations that they allow Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. The dispute has complicated efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Khalilzad’s allegations and Pakistan’s response add to the public dispute over the two countries’ security relationship. The material reviewed does not independently confirm that Pakistan is arming Afghan nationals to fight the Taliban or recruiting them to combat anti-Pakistan insurgents.
