Kabul: The Taliban on Tuesday sharply criticised the Pakistan Army over what it described as “irresponsible and provocative” remarks made by the military’s spokesperson regarding Afghanistan’s governance and stability.

In a strongly worded statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said comments made during a Pakistani army press conference were detached from reality and inconsistent with the conduct expected of a professional military institution.

The statement came after Pakistan Army’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, reportedly mocked the Taliban administration, claiming Afghanistan had “no government” and describing it as merely a “geographical expression”. Afghan officials viewed the remarks as a direct challenge to their sovereignty and legitimacy.

Mujahid said Afghanistan was an independent and stable country with full control over its territory, warning that any threatening language or interference in internal affairs was unacceptable to the Afghan nation. He urged Pakistani institutions to refrain from what he termed unfounded propaganda and instead focus on addressing Pakistan’s internal challenges, while calling for restraint in view of the sensitivity of bilateral ties.

The exchange followed a separate and broader warning issued by Pakistan’s military, which accused Afghanistan of becoming a “hub for terrorists and non-state actors”. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Lt Gen Chaudhry alleged that militant groups including al-Qaida, the Islamic State group and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan were operating from Afghan soil. He also claimed that around 2,500 foreign militants had recently entered Afghanistan from Syria after the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar Assad, though no evidence was provided.

Pakistan’s military further asserted that Afghan nationals were involved in nearly all major militant attacks inside Pakistan in 2025, a year in which the country recorded 5,397 attacks, a sharp rise from 2024. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harbouring militants targeting Pakistan, allegations the Taliban have consistently denied.

Tensions between the two neighbours have escalated in recent months, occasionally turning violent. In October, Pakistan carried out airstrikes on what it said were Pakistani Taliban hideouts inside Afghanistan, prompting retaliatory action from Kabul before a ceasefire was brokered by Qatar.

The latest war of words underscores the fragile state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, with mutual accusations, security concerns and diplomatic strain threatening to further destabilise the region.