Relations are further strained as Afghanistan and Pakistan trade accusations of terrorism and cross-border violence. Published September 27, 2026 September 27, 2026 Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said its forces killed 28 fighters in eastern Nuristan province who had crossed the border from Pakistan. In a statement published on X, the Taliban’s Defense Ministry confirmed that they had been involved in clashes with the opposing group on Sunday. articlesend of listThe Ministry of Defense alleged that most of the fighters were former Afghan government security personnel recruited by Pakistan’s intelligence services with promises of asylum and well-paid employment in foreign countries. The Ministry of Defense claimed that the fighters included ISIL (ISIS) fighters who were supported by Pakistani militias. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected the allegations, describing them in a post on X as “frivolous, baseless and devoid of truth.” Pakistan denied that its security forces or intelligence agencies were involved in clashes in Nuristan, had recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel, or had facilitated ISIL (ISIS) or other armed groups in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s Information Ministry also said that the Taliban “should take credible and verifiable measures against terrorist organizations operating from its territory” and fulfill its obligation that “Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country instead of attempting to deflect responsibility through fabricated accusations.” Last week, Pakistan launched airstrikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan that it said were used to store and launch drones, some of which were used in cross-border attacks. Pakistani airstrikes on Thursday killed at least four people, an Afghan Taliban government spokesman said, vowing to provide an “appropriate response.” Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring fighters attacking its territory, a charge Kabul denies. Sunday’s incident also follows Pakistani airstrikes. The attacks in Afghanistan on September 21 that Islamabad said killed 28 fighters. Afghan officials said civilians were killed and the U.N. mission in Afghanistan confirmed the deaths of three civilians.
