Taliban Warns Pakistan: Afghan Soil Won’t Be Used Against India

Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi issued a stern warning to Pakistan, declaring that no group would be allowed to use Afghan soil to launch attacks against India. The remarks, delivered on October 10, 2025, during a press interaction in Kabul, signal a significant shift in the Taliban’s foreign policy and underscore Afghanistan’s intent to curb cross-border terrorism targeting its eastern neighbor.

Muttaqi’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, particularly following reports of Pakistan-based militant groups exploiting Afghan territory to orchestrate attacks against India. “We will not permit any group or entity to use Afghanistan as a base to harm India or any other country,” Muttaqi asserted, emphasizing the Taliban’s commitment to regional stability. He urged Pakistan to rein in terror outfits operating from its soil, warning that failure to do so could strain bilateral ties and destabilize the region further.

The statement is seen as a direct response to India’s repeated concerns about terror sanctuaries in Pakistan, particularly groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which New Delhi accuses of orchestrating attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai assault and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. India has long pressed for decisive action against such groups, and Muttaqi’s remarks align with New Delhi’s push for a terror-free neighborhood.

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Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban has sought to project a more pragmatic image, balancing relations with regional powers like India, China, and Russia while navigating its historically complex ties with Pakistan. Muttaqi highlighted Afghanistan’s desire for “peaceful and cooperative” relations with India, pointing to recent economic engagements, including India’s humanitarian aid and infrastructure projects like the Salma Dam and the Zaranj-Delaram highway.

Analysts view the Taliban’s stance as a strategic move to counter Pakistan’s influence over Afghan affairs, particularly given Islamabad’s alleged support for factions like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has clashed with the Taliban. “This is a message to both Pakistan and the international community that the Taliban wants to be seen as a responsible actor,” said Harsh V Pant, a strategic affairs expert at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

India welcomed the statement, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling it a “positive step” toward regional security. New Delhi has cautiously re-engaged with the Taliban regime, resuming diplomatic presence in Kabul in 2022 and channeling aid through UN agencies. However, challenges remain, as the Taliban’s ability to control splinter groups like IS-KP, which has targeted Indian interests in the past, is still under scrutiny.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has not officially responded, but sources in Islamabad indicate unease over the Taliban’s public rebuke. The warning could strain the already fragile Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship, marked by border disputes and mutual accusations of harboring militants. Recent skirmishes along the Durand Line have only deepened mistrust.

Muttaqi’s pledge also reflects Afghanistan’s broader ambition to secure international legitimacy. By aligning with India’s concerns, the Taliban may hope to gain favor with global powers wary of its human rights record, particularly on women’s rights and governance. However, experts caution that implementing this commitment will be an uphill battle given Afghanistan’s volatile security landscape and the Taliban’s limited control over all factions.

As the region watches closely, Muttaqi’s remarks could mark a turning point in India-Afghanistan ties, offering New Delhi a rare opportunity to bolster its strategic footprint in Central Asia. Yet, the Taliban’s ability to walk the talk will determine whether this bold promise translates into meaningful action or remains a diplomatic gesture in a region fraught with distrust.

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