Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Mohammad Nabi Omari, has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, accusing Islamabad’s military regime of acting “at the instigation of others,” Tolo News reported.
Referring to the airstrikes that killed at least ten people, including three Afghan cricketers, in the Paktika province on Friday, Omari said Pakistan’s actions were influenced by external forces rather than its own decision-making.
“These attacks were not of their own desire or decision, but rather carried out at the instigation of others,” Omari stated.
In a sharp rebuke directed at Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Omari also reacted to his recent remarks praising former U.S. President Donald Trump during the Gaza Peace Summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
“We were embarrassed that we wish [Shehbaz Sharif] were not Muslim,” Omari remarked.
At the Gaza summit, attended by world leaders including Trump, following a hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas, Sharif had lauded Trump as a “man of peace.”
Omari also dismissed Pakistan’s accusations that the Afghan Taliban are sheltering Pakistani militants.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not provided refuge to Pakistani Taliban; they are stationed in the tribal areas,” he said, according to Tolo News.
He further claimed that Pakistan owes its independence to Afghan fighters, saying,
“If there had been no mujahideen, Pakistan today would also be under Russian occupation.”
His remarks come amid high-level talks in Doha between Afghanistan and Pakistan’s defence ministers following Islamabad’s airstrikes in Paktika province. The meeting, mediated by Qatar, aims to de-escalate tensions and prevent further conflict. According to the Afghan Foreign Ministry, the discussions are being led by Afghanistan’s Defence Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob and Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Before the talks commenced, Kabul accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty and initiating the latest confrontation.
“The Islamic Emirate is not a follower of war; rather, it was the Pakistani side that initiated the conflict by violating Afghanistan’s airspace,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry stated.
The ministry also revealed that, prior to the talks, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi and Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, held a telephone discussion.
In a post on X, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said:
“In these talks, bilateral relations and recent regional issues were discussed, particularly with regard to the violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty by Pakistan.”
The statement further added:
“We are respectfully awaiting the talks to see what results can be achieved. The Iranian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the start of talks between both sides and emphasised resolving the issue through diplomacy. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while stressing the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding, expressed readiness to assist from his side, which was appreciated by the Foreign Minister. Assurance was given that talks are practically ongoing.”
Pakistan, however, maintains that its recent military actions were aimed at countering “cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan.”
In a statement posted on X, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said:
“A high-level delegation from Pakistan, led by our Minister of Defence, will hold discussions with representatives of the Afghan Taliban in Doha today. The talks will focus on immediate measures to end cross-border terrorism against Pakistan emanating from Afghanistan and restore peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border.”
The escalation comes after Pakistan reportedly violated a ceasefire, killing at least six people — including two children — and injuring seven others in a series of airstrikes in Afghanistan’s southeastern Paktika province. The strikes mark a breach of the recent truce between the two neighbouring countries, Tolo News reported on Friday.
Earlier, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attacks as “provocative and deliberate attempts to prolong the conflict,” adding that Afghan forces have been instructed to avoid retaliation while diplomatic discussions continue.
The latest escalation follows repeated airstrikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s southeastern regions, with Kabul warning that it “reserves the right to respond” if such violations persist.
