KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban sharply criticized Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif over comments he made about Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi, a historical Afghan king, calling his remarks “insolent” and historically inaccurate.
In a statement, Taliban denounced Asif’s assertion that Ghaznavi had led expeditions to India for “looting.” The statement accused Asif of lacking knowledge of historical realities and described his remarks as “irresponsible.”
“It is disappointing that a Pakistani official speaks so ignorantly about history,” the Taliban statement read. It emphasized that Ghaznavi is regarded as an “honor” to the Muslim world for his role in defending and uniting Islamic communities.
The Taliban also pointed out the irony of Pakistan naming one of its defensive missiles after Ghaznavi while simultaneously allowing its officials to disparage his legacy.
The statement underscored that Ghaznavi, an Afghan king, was not only a significant Muslim leader but also felt a responsibility to protect oppressed and vulnerable populations in the region.
In an earlier interview, Asif had referred to Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi as a “liar” who conducted military campaigns in India for plunder. The Taliban dismissed this characterization as unfounded and insulting.
The comments have added another layer of tension to the already strained relations between the Taliban and Pakistan, a neighboring country with deep historical and political ties to Afghanistan.
