In an interview with British news agency Reuters, the military spokesperson alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime acts as an Indian proxy, while militant groups Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) also operate as Indian proxies against Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the Afghan Taliban use non-state actors and mercenaries to pursue their objectives. He argued that Afghanistan continues to be controlled by non-state elements rather than functioning as a normal state.
He said that following the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, several intelligence agencies and proxy groups established their presence in the country. He also claimed that international militant organisations, including Jaish al-Adl, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), remain present in Afghanistan.
According to the DG ISPR, the United Nations, the United States and several other countries have also highlighted the presence of such organisations in Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan’s demand from the Afghan Taliban is limited to ending support for militants operating inside Pakistan.
Chaudhry alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime has provided shelter to militant figures, including Noor Wali Mehsud, Bashir Zeb and Gul Bahadur. He further claimed that militant groups enter Pakistan from Afghanistan and receive weapons from there.
He warned that the Afghan Taliban regime would have to pay a serious price if it failed to address Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism.
The DG ISPR also questioned the Afghan Taliban’s international standing, saying the regime lacked global credibility. He called on the international community to pressure the Afghan Taliban to adopt the behaviour expected of a normal state and stop the cultivation and production of narcotics.
He further said Pakistan’s armed forces have the capability to counter all threats originating from the Afghan regime, including drones.
