Afghanistan's Taliban government has formally accused Pakistan of backing, training, and directing armed groups involved in cross-border infiltration, adding a sharp new dimension to the already fractured relationship between the two neighbours. The allegations, documented in a report by South Africa-based Independent Online (IOL), echo longstanding charges levelled by India, Iran, and several Western nations against Islamabad.

Key Developments in Nuristan

According to the Taliban, Afghan forces conducted a major counter-infiltration operation in Nuristan province's Kamdesh district, killing 41 militants and capturing 62 others. All those killed or captured were allegedly linked to ISIS-affiliated groups and reportedly backed by Pakistani authorities.

In a statement dated 29 September, the Taliban Defence Ministry said the operation in Kamdesh had concluded successfully. The Taliban claimed the fighters had crossed into Afghan territory 'with Pakistan's military regime's backing,' according to Afghanistan International.

What Afghanistan's Defence Ministry Said

Kabul's Defence Ministry went further, stating that the infiltration attempt was carried out under the 'direct guidance and cooperation' of the Pakistani military — a direct and unusually explicit accusation from the Taliban administration. Kabul also alleged that Pakistan has been systematically facilitating the recruitment and arming of militants on its soil to foment instability across the border.

A Pattern of Regional Allegations Against Pakistan

The Taliban's accusations are not isolated. For years, India has charged Pakistan with sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and backing militant groups responsible for attacks across the country, presenting what it describes as evidence of Pakistani state involvement to the international community.

Iran has similarly accused Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of training and facilitating attacks on Iranian soil. Tehran has demanded decisive action against groups operating from Pakistani territory, specifically naming Jaish al-Adl. Iranian Revolutionary Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari stated that 'Pakistan's government knows where they are, and they are supported by Pakistan's security forces,' according to the IOL report.

Earlier, when US forces were deployed in Afghanistan, Pakistan faced allegations of allowing groups including the Haqqani Network, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to operate freely. Then-US Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen famously declared: 'The Haqqani Network, for one, acts as a veritable arm of Pakistan's intelligence.' European authorities have also voiced concerns about Pakistan serving as a haven for international terrorist organisations.

The Blowback Dimension

Notably, critics have pointed to a deep irony in the current situation. Pakistan, which for years portrayed Afghanistan as a source of regional instability, now faces credible allegations of doing precisely what it accused Kabul of. The IOL report concluded: 'The Pakistani government established what critics describe as a militant ecosystem, using extremist groups as strategic instruments against neighbouring countries. However, this very network of militancy has increasingly turned against Pakistan itself.'

This comes amid Pakistan's own escalating security crisis, with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) intensifying attacks on Pakistani soil — a development widely attributed to the same militant networks Islamabad allegedly cultivated over decades.

What Happens Next

The Taliban's public and direct accusation against Pakistan's military marks a significant escalation in Kabul-Islamabad relations, which have deteriorated sharply since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Analysts warn that without a verifiable diplomatic resolution, cross-border skirmishes and proxy confrontations are likely to intensify — with regional consequences for India, Iran, and Central Asia.