ISLAMABAD: Islamabad on Friday accused the Afghan Taliban government of “instigating Pashtunism” in Pakistan, amid heightened tensions between the neighbors over a surge in militancy in Pakistan.
Tensions have been high between Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent years, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). Kabul has consistently denied this.
Clashes erupted between the neighbors on Oct. 11 after Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan against what it said were TTP-linked targets. The two sides reached a ceasefire in Doha on Oct. 19, but two subsequent rounds of talks in Istanbul failed to firm up the truce.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Pakistani foreign office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said some elements within the Afghan Taliban have made an attempt to “instigate” Pashtun sentiment in Pakistan. He did not offer any evidence, while Kabul did not immediately respond to the comment.
“It is a historical fact that Pashtuns in Pakistan are a vibrant part of our society and the state, holding leadership position across the spectrum of public life and civil society. More number of Pashtuns live in Pakistan than in Afghanistan,” Andrabi told reporters on Friday.
