The Taliban’s defense minister, Yaqoob Mujahid, has suggested that Pakistan may have obtained US support to destroy military equipment left behind in Afghanistan after the American withdrawal.
In an interview with the TOLONews, Mujahid said it was possible that Pakistan had received a “project” from the United States to eliminate American-made weapons that remain in Afghanistan.
He did not provide evidence for the claim.
He also warned that continued instability in Afghanistan could spread to Pakistan.
“If Kabul becomes insecure, Islamabad will also become insecure,” he said, adding that Pakistan should not assume it could destabilize Afghanistan without facing consequences at home.
His comments come as border clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops have continued for more than a week, raising tensions between the two sides.
Mujahid said Pakistan had sought to influence Afghanistan’s foreign policy and had urged Taliban leaders to recognize the Durand Line as the official border between the two countries.
According to him, the Taliban rejected that request, arguing that the Durand Line remains a historical dispute that neither the current authorities nor previous Afghan governments have been able to resolve.
He said the issue should not be used to escalate tensions and suggested that any final decision should be left to the people of both countries.
Mujahid also rejected Pakistan’s long-standing accusation that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operate from Afghanistan’s territory, saying Afghanistan’s soil is not used against Pakistan. He added that Pakistan should likewise ensure its territory is not used against Afghanistan.
The Taliban minister said Pakistan has violated Afghanistan’s sovereignty through cross-border attacks, saying such actions were unacceptable to Afghans.
“If Pakistan continues this war for ten years, we are prepared to fight for ten years,” he said, though he added that the Taliban prefer resolving disputes through dialogue.
Tensions between the two sides have escalated sharply in recent weeks. Pakistan has carried out airstrikes in several provinces, including the capital, Kabul, and Kandahar, where Taliban officials say military sites were targeted.
Residents and local sources have also reported explosions and air activity in Kabul and Panjshir, though details of the strikes remain unclear. Taliban have instructed domestic media not to publish detailed information about the attacks.
Local sources say some of the strikes appeared to target weapons depots and military facilities used by Taliban forces.
This comes as the Taliban have rejected the TTP presence in Afghanistan, but a UN monitoring group has reported that the TTP has at least 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan.
