Taliban’s Muttaqi Sends Strong Message to Pakistan Amid Border Clashes

NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Hours after Taliban-led Afghan fighters clashed with Pakistani security forces, capturing several border posts and killing 58 Pakistani soldiers, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister and Taliban leader Amir Khan Muttaqi said the situation was under control but issued a firm warning. 

Speaking from New Delhi, where he is on a visit until October 16, Muttaqi said Sunday:

“We want a peaceful resolution… but if the peace efforts don’t succeed, we have other options.”

He stressed that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan seeks to resolve all disputes through dialogue: “The policy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is to resolve all problems through discussion and understanding. We want to have zero tension and if they don’t want that, then Afghanistan has other means.”

Muttaqi’s remarks followed Pakistan summoning the Taliban ambassador over the India-Afghanistan joint statement issued in New Delhi, in which Kabul strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April.

“We have good relations with the people of Pakistan and the government, but some elements in that country are trying to create problems,” Muttaqi said. He elaborated: “Pakistan ka awaam aur hukumat mein bhi aksar log aman-pasand hain. They want good relations with Afghanistan… There is a specific section in Pakistan that is trying to exacerbate the situation,” referring to elements within the Pakistan Army.

On the border clashes, Muttaqi highlighted Afghanistan’s readiness to defend its territory: “Afghanistan will protect its borders and its people, and we have retaliated to their actions… If some people don’t want to take that path, Afghanistan holds the privilege to protect its borders and its people.”

The Taliban leader also addressed criticism over Friday’s press conference, where women journalists were excluded. He called the exclusion a “technical issue”: “With regards to the press conference (on Friday), it was on short notice… There was no other intention apart from this.” At Sunday’s inclusive briefing at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, about half of the 100 journalists present were women.

Muttaqi also addressed women’s rights and education in Afghanistan. He claimed: “With regard to education, at the moment we have 10 million students attending schools and other educational institutes, of which 2.8 million are women and girls… In religious seminaries, this educational opportunity is available all the way to the graduation level.” On safety, he added: “Mard ho ya aurat, kisi ka haq zaya nahi ho sakta hai… Anyone can come to Afghanistan and work under local laws.”

On the ongoing tensions with Pakistan, Muttaqi asserted: “Afghanistan will maintain the security of its territory and airspace… There have been violations and we have given immediate responses. In the night (Saturday), there were retaliatory operations in which we achieved our objectives.” He underlined Afghanistan’s capacity for defense: “Even if we have internal differences, when the issue of external interference comes up… all the Afghan people, government and clerics get united to confront it and defend the country.”

Muttaqi rejected Pakistan’s claims that the Taliban shelters the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stating: “There is no presence of TTP in Afghanistan now… If Pakistan wants peace – they have a bigger army and better intelligence why are they not controlling it? Instead of blaming us, they should control the issues in their territory.”

He concluded by emphasising Afghanistan’s stability: “We have controlled a country as big as Afghanistan after 40 years of conflict… Afghanistan is independent and standing on its own feet. We have a policy of desiring good relations with all countries.”

During his New Delhi visit, Muttaqi also visited the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary on Saturday and is expected to meet Afghan businessmen and members of the Afghan community in India on Monday.

Coverage by WNN | Reported by Dr. Shahid Siddiqui