Pakistan’s military on Tuesday warned that Afghanistan is turning into a “hub for terrorists and non-state actors.” It alleged that the Taliban government is patronising groups such as al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and the Pakistani Taliban.
During a press conference, Pakistan military spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said that around 2,500 foreign militants had recently entered Afghanistan from Syria after the expulsion of former President Bashar Assad. He claimed these militants were invited to Afghanistan, though he did not present any evidence.
“These terrorists are neither Pakistanis nor Afghan citizens and belong to other nationalities,” he said. Chaudhry warned that the return of international militant groups could pose security threats beyond Afghanistan’s borders.
There was no immediate response from Kabul to the allegations.
Almost 14-year civil war in Syria was ended with Assad’s removal in December 2024, but the conflict left behind many armed groups shaped by years of foreign intervention.
Since then, fighters from Syria have joined conflicts in other regions. Turkish-backed combatants were sent to Libya, while some militants were recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine. Foreign fighters have also joined Syrian rebel groups, pro-government forces and extremist outfits like the Islamic State group.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened in recent months, with tensions sometimes turning violent along the border.
In October, the two countries came close to a wider conflict after Pakistan conducted airstrikes on what it described as Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside Afghanistan. Kabul responded by targeting Pakistani military posts. The clashes ended after Qatar stepped in to broker a ceasefire.
Chaudhry also said Pakistan killed 2,597 militants in 2025, compared to 1,053 the previous year. He added that the country recorded 5,397 militant attacks in 2025, up from 3,014 in 2024.
“Yes, this is a big number,” he said while referring to the rise in attacks. “Why? Because we are engaging them everywhere.” He also claimed that Afghan nationals were involved in almost all major attacks inside Pakistan last year.
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