Information ministry blames Kabul inaction for strained Pakistan-Afghanistan ties

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said the Afghan Taliban government's failure to stop militant groups from operating from Afghan soil is the main cause of the deterioration in relations between the two countries, and rejected a Taliban spokesperson's account of the dispute as misleading.

In a statement issued in Islamabad, the ministry said the Afghan leadership blames Pakistan's policies for the rift while ignoring what it called the fundamental issue. Cross-border terrorism, the statement said, remains the biggest obstacle to normal relations.

The Express Tribune reported the government's response as a rebuke of the Afghan Taliban's "deeply misguided approach" to resolving bilateral tensions.

The ministry said Kabul must accept its responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan, and could no longer ignore those obligations. It said Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary measures to eliminate threats to its national security.

It rejected what it described as accusations and hollow assurances from the Taliban leadership, saying that approach would not resolve the crisis between Islamabad and Kabul.

Terrorism is a red line for Pakistan, the ministry said, and the safety of Pakistani citizens cannot be compromised. It warned that the country's determination to defend its people and territory should not be mistaken for weakness, and that Pakistan would not let its security be endangered by Taliban inaction, delay or unfulfilled commitments.

The exchange comes amid continued tension over security. Islamabad has repeatedly demanded that Kabul stop militant groups from launching attacks inside Pakistan from Afghan territory.

The Minute Mirror report said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has acknowledged Pakistan's concerns about attacks allegedly originating from Afghan territory. The report did not give the date or venue of his remarks.

The ministry's statement did not name the Taliban spokesperson it was answering, and set out no new diplomatic or military steps.