ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has responded to recent statements by the Afghan Taliban government, saying that allegations against Pakistan cannot address its legitimate and longstanding security concerns. The ministry stressed that the Afghan Taliban must ensure Afghan territory is not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.

According to the ministry, blaming Pakistan’s security institutions does not absolve the Afghan Taliban government of its responsibility to prevent cross-border terrorism. It said Pakistan’s concerns are based on documented evidence rather than speculation.

The ministry cited the 16th report of the United Nations Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, S/2025/796, which examined the presence and activities of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

It also referred to a report submitted to the US Congress by the Lead Inspector General covering Operation Enduring Sentinel for January–March 2026. According to the ministry, the report stated that the Afghan Taliban continued to allow Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory. It further indicated that support for the group and greater operational freedom contributed to an increase in attacks against Pakistan. The report put the number of TTP fighters at between 4,000 and 6,000.

The ministry said these assessments highlighted Pakistan’s concerns regarding terrorist safe havens and support networks in Afghanistan. It added that assertions that Afghanistan neither has the capacity nor the intention to destabilise Pakistan do not adequately address the documented concerns.

The statement also pointed to repeated attempts by armed militants to infiltrate Pakistan across the Afghan border, reported deaths of Afghan nationals and members of terrorist groups during Pakistan’s counterterrorism operations, and the recovery of foreign-made weapons from terrorist elements. The ministry said these matters warranted serious scrutiny.

Pakistan has also expressed concerns over the alleged facilitation of terrorist groups by Afghan Taliban officials, including officials based in Kandahar, the ministry said. It maintained that these concerns could not be dismissed through blanket denials and required credible explanations and verifiable action.

The ministry emphasised that Pakistan’s security measures target terrorist threats, not the Afghan people. It said peace and stability in the two countries were interconnected and that a region free from terrorism would benefit Afghans as much as their Pakistani neighbours.

The Afghan Taliban government must end any tolerance, facilitation or support for terrorist organisations, including the TTP, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and affiliated groups, the statement said. It must also ensure that Afghan territory is not used to plan, prepare or carry out attacks against Pakistan.

The ministry added that portraying Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and necessary defensive measures as hostility towards Afghanistan would neither resolve the underlying issue nor divert attention from it.

Pakistan would continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said. However, it remained prepared for responsible dialogue based on mutual respect, verifiable assurances and concrete action against terrorist safe havens, support networks and cross-border infiltration.

The ministry concluded that lasting regional peace would require the Afghan Taliban government to address Pakistan’s fundamental concerns about terrorism originating from Afghan territory through verifiable practical measures.