Pakistan and the Taliban exchanged sharp rhetoric Monday, deepening a diplomatic rift that has widened after deadly border clashes and fresh domestic unrest inside Pakistan.
The latest tension began after the Taliban condemned Pakistan’s handling of recent protests by the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) party, saying it was “saddened and affected” by reports that Pakistani forces fired on demonstrators, resulting in civilian casualties and property damage.
The Taliban’s statement referred to the protests as peaceful and called on Islamabad to respect the rights of civilians. The remarks marked an unusual public comment by the Taliban on Pakistan’s internal affairs.
In a forceful response, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry rebuked the Taliban’s statement, urging them to “refrain from commenting on matters outside their jurisdiction” and to respect the principle of non-interference under international diplomatic norms.
“Pakistan does not require outside advice on its internal matters,” the ministry said, calling on the Taliban to instead focus on their own governance and live up to commitments made in the 2020 Doha Agreement, including the prevention of cross-border terrorism and the formation of an inclusive government.
In a notable shift in tone, Pakistan referred to the Taliban as the “Taliban regime” — a departure from its earlier usage of “Afghan interim government,” signaling growing official frustration in Islamabad.
Border violence deepens the divide
The diplomatic spat comes just days after Taliban and Pakistani forces engaged in some of the heaviest cross-border fighting in recent years. On Oct. 11, Taliban and Pakistani forces clashed across multiple points along the Durand Line, the disputed border between the two countries, leaving scores dead.
The Taliban claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed, while Pakistan also claimed it had killed around 200 Taliban and affiliated militants in retaliation. Islamabad also accused the Taliban of sheltering members of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned group responsible for multiple deadly attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban reject those claims.
Border crossings remain closed following the clashes, and Pakistani drone strikes have reportedly hit targets inside southern Afghanistan in recent days, although both sides have remained tight-lipped about the details.
Taliban spokesman confirmed Sunday that Qatar and Saudi Arabia are involved in behind-the-scenes efforts to de-escalate the crisis, but no formal mediation has been confirmed.
