Kabul Summons Pakistani Diplomat as Border Tensions Escalate
The ministry claimed Afghan security forces prevented the group from entering the area and carrying out what it described as “destructive activities.”
Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and lodged a formal protest over allegations that armed fighters attempted to cross into Nuristan province from Pakistani territory, adding to growing tensions between the two neighbours following a series of diplomatic protests and cross-border security incidents.
The ministry claimed Afghan security forces prevented the group from entering the area and carrying out what it described as “destructive activities.”
The Afghan Foreign Ministry described the alleged actions as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and contrary to international principles and good-neighbourly relations.
It warned that responsibility for the consequences of any continuation of what it termed “irresponsible and ill-considered actions” would rest with Pakistan’s military establishment.
Pakistan has previously rejected similar allegations from the Afghan Taliban authorities concerning Nuristan as “frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth,” saying no evidence had been presented to substantiate claims of Pakistani involvement.
The latest diplomatic protest comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, with Pakistan itself recently issuing multiple demarches to the Afghan authorities over security incidents and alleged terrorist activity originating from Afghan territory.
On September 23, Pakistan said eight drones originating from Afghan territory entered Pakistani airspace, with four intercepted near Torkham and four in the Kohat area.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry subsequently said it carried out precision aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations inside Afghanistan that it said had been used for launching drones towards Pakistan. Islamabad described the action as “deliberate, precise, calibrated and proportionate.”
Pakistan has also recently summoned the Afghan representative over its security concerns. A demarche was delivered on September 23, followed by another on September 26 over what Islamabad said were attempted cross-border infiltration and planned suicide attacks originating from Afghanistan.
Tensions have also been fuelled by exchanges along the border. Pakistani security sources recently said an attempted cross-border action in the Gulistan sector had been thwarted following exchanges of fire.
Islamabad has repeatedly raised the issue at the UN Security Council and provided evidence that the Afghan Taliban authorities have failed to prevent terrorist groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from using Afghan territory to plan and launch attacks inside Pakistan.
