Pakistan blames neighbours, steps up border ops after surge
Islamabad: Pakistan has accused neighbouring countries of fuelling a recent surge in terrorist attacks and said its security forces are conducting targeted operations in border districts, as Afghanistan’s Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi used a platform in India to address Pakistan and the United States, according to multiple media reports.
Islamabad links terror uptick to neighbours
In remarks cited by Indian outlet News18, Pakistani officials suggested that “India may be trying to take revenge through Afghanistan,” blaming neighbours for a rise in cross-border terrorism aimed at destabilising Pakistan. The report said Islamabad sees external hands behind recent attacks inside the country, though it did not immediately provide further details.
Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that anti-state militants operating from Afghan soil have carried out attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in recent months. India has long rejected accusations of fomenting instability in Pakistan, while Afghan authorities have said they will not allow their territory to be used against another country.
FO: Targeted security operations in border areas
Separately, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said security forces are “conducting targeted operations in border areas,” Business Recorder reported, in what Islamabad describes as part of an intensified effort to disrupt militant networks and prevent cross-border infiltration. The FO did not specify the locations or timelines of the operations, but the statement underscored an ongoing security push along Pakistan’s frontiers.
The FO routinely briefs on counterterrorism measures following incidents in the country’s northwest and southwest, where security forces have sustained casualties in ambushes and raids blamed on groups Pakistan says are based across the border. Authorities say such actions are meant to dismantle safe havens, interdict movement, and strengthen border management.
Taliban minister delivers message from India
Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister, “sent a message to Pakistan and the US from India,” Times Now reported, highlighting Kabul’s evolving regional outreach. While the report did not detail the full contents of his message, the public address in India drew attention for its timing amid strained Pakistan–Afghanistan ties over security and border controls, and ongoing U.S. engagement with regional stakeholders on Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has said it seeks stable relations with neighbours and has denied allowing Afghan territory to be used by militants against Pakistan. Islamabad has pressed Kabul to act against groups it accuses of plotting and staging attacks from across the border, calling for verifiable steps and enhanced cooperation.
Regional tension and security backdrop
Pakistan’s assertions follow an uptick in militant violence that has put renewed focus on the western frontier. Islamabad says it has strengthened patrols, surveillance, and fencing along key crossing points while coordinating with provincial authorities and the military to address security threats. The FO’s reference to “targeted operations” suggests a sustained counterterrorism posture in districts abutting Afghanistan.
New Delhi and Islamabad remain at odds over a range of issues, with India rejecting any role in destabilising Pakistan. For its part, Pakistan says recent attacks bear hallmarks of cross-border coordination. No independent verification of the latest claims was immediately available.
What comes next
Officials in Islamabad indicate that counterterrorism actions along the frontier will continue, with the FO emphasizing law enforcement and military operations in sensitive zones. Analysts expect Pakistan to keep pressing Kabul for concrete steps against militants accused of targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians, while regional interlocutors encourage dialogue to reduce tensions.
With competing narratives and heightened security measures on multiple borders, the coming weeks are likely to test Pakistan’s efforts to deter cross-border militancy and manage diplomatic friction with both Kabul and New Delhi, even as Taliban officials signal a willingness to engage regional capitals from platforms in India.