‘Unfounded and illogical’: Taliban rejects Pakistan’s ‘India hand’ claim; vows to deepen ties with Delhi

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (R) and his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi shaking hands during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. (Photo by India's Ministry of External Affairs / AFP)

Afghanistan’s Defense Minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has issued a sharp rebuttal to Pakistan’s latest attempt to drag India into its regional troubles, calling Islamabad’s accusations “unfounded, illogical, and unacceptable.” His remarks come amid Pakistan’s growing isolation, as even the Taliban government appears unwilling to back its narrative.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Mujahid made it clear that Kabul’s foreign policy decisions are made independently and guided solely by national interests. “These accusations are groundless. Our policy will never involve using our territory against other countries. We maintain relations with India as an independent nation and will strengthen those ties within the framework of our national interests,” he said.

Mujahid’s statement is being seen as one of the strongest public dismissals yet of Pakistan’s attempts to link India to instability in the region. While Islamabad continues to blame both New Delhi and Kabul for its internal security failures, the Taliban government appears to be charting its own course — one that values diplomatic sovereignty over appeasing Pakistan.

Speaking on relations with Islamabad, Mujahid adopted a measured tone, saying Afghanistan wanted peace and cooperation, not confrontation. “Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighbouring countries. Tensions between them serve no one. Their relationship should be founded on mutual respect and good neighborly principles,” he said.

The minister also referred to the Doha Agreement, noting that the upcoming meeting in Turkey will focus on ensuring compliance with the pact. He warned that Pakistan’s failure to adhere to its obligations could “create problems” and urged countries such as Turkey and Qatar to help ensure proper implementation.

Mujahid stressed that Afghanistan’s policy does not involve supporting armed groups against any country, including Pakistan, and asserted that Afghans would “bravely” defend their homeland if attacked.

Relations between the two neighbors have sharply deteriorated since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Pakistan has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing safe havens to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been behind a surge of attacks on Pakistani forces. In October alone, over 100 Pakistani security personnel and police officers were killed in assaults originating from across the border, according to Pakistani officials.

However, analysts say Pakistan’s accusations are part of a larger pattern of scapegoating. The country’s military establishment has also tried to blame India for sponsoring the TTP, an allegation New Delhi has consistently denied. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has stated that Pakistan’s habit of blaming its neighbours reflects its inability to confront homegrown extremism.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s crackdown on Afghan migrants, including mass deportations and arbitrary detentions, has further strained relations. Despite Islamabad’s growing hostility, Mujahid’s remarks signal that Afghanistan intends to pursue its own diplomatic path, refusing to be drawn into Pakistan’s narrative of perpetual victimhood.