Pakistan warns Kabul over militant sanctuaries as Rubio backs its concerns
Pakistan has warned Afghanistan’s Taliban government that militant sanctuaries on Afghan soil remain the main block to normal relations between the two countries, in a statement issued on Saturday, 31 October.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the Taliban leadership kept blaming Islamabad while ignoring the central issue: terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and the failure to stop attacks launched from its territory. “Terrorism is a red line, and there can be no compromise on the security of its citizens,” the ministry said.
The statement was a reply to Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, who told Taliban-linked Hurriyat Radio on Saturday that Kabul had repeatedly tried to settle differences through dialogue without a breakthrough, and that Pakistan did not want to resolve the dispute through talks.
Pakistan said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures, in line with international law, to remove threats to its security. It added that its determination to protect its people should not be mistaken for weakness.
The warning came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, said Pakistan was concerned about terrorist attacks sponsored from Afghan territory. “They think that the Taliban has not done enough to constrain those attacks,” Rubio said, adding that Washington would play a productive role if it could.
Why it matters
Pakistan says the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other groups use Afghan territory to plan attacks inside Pakistan, and it has repeatedly asked Kabul for verifiable action against them. The latest exchange shows the two sides are still blaming each other in public, with no agreement on talks in sight.
The border has also stayed tense. Pakistan TV reported, citing sources, that on 27 October Afghan forces opened fire in the Angoor Adda area, killing one resident and injuring five members of a family. Rubio’s comments add American weight to Pakistan’s case.
What happens next
Watch for a reply from Kabul, and for any sign of fresh mediation or talks. No new round of talks was announced in the reports of the 31 October statement.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://dailythedestination.com/pakistan-warns-kabul-no-compromise-on-national-security/ (The Destination, 31 October 2026)
- https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-rejects-taliban-blame-reiterates-right-to-protect-national-security (Pakistan TV, 31 October 2026)
- https://beflaz.com/news/2026-10-31-pakistan-slams-afghan-taliban-for-shifting-blame-persistent-2b0d13.html (Beflaz, citing Dawn, 31 October 2026)
