WorldPosted at: Sep 21 2026 8:03PM

Islamabad, Sep 21 (UNI) Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that 70-80% of people carrying out terrorist attacks on mosques, schools, markets and Pakistan's military are Afghan nationals, further escalating Islamabad's rhetoric against Afghans and the Taliban authorities in Kabul.
Asif made the claim in a post on X on Sunday while criticising Pakistani students who had expressed support for Afghan students facing uncertainty over their education in Pakistan. He argued that such solidarity reflected the political affiliations of the Pakistani students rather than genuine support for their Afghan counterparts. Afghan and Taliban authorities have repeatedly rejected Pakistan's broader allegations that Afghan territory is being used by militants to launch attacks in Pakistan.
Asif said Pakistan had hosted Afghans for five decades and shared its limited resources with millions of refugees during years of conflict in Afghanistan. He said Islamabad had expected the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan in 2021 to lead to more secure borders and peaceful relations, but claimed attacks against Pakistan had continued.
He said Pakistan's civilian and military leaders had maintained direct and indirect contacts with Afghan authorities, but that those efforts had failed to ease what he called hostility towards Islamabad.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban government of allowing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants to operate from Afghan territory and launch attacks across the border. Kabul has denied the allegations and said Afghanistan does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.
The dispute has intensified this year, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes inside Afghanistan against what it described as militant targets. Afghanistan has condemned the strikes and accused Pakistan of hitting civilians. On Monday, Pakistan said its latest strikes in Kunar and Paktika provinces had killed 28 militants, though Afghan authorities dispute the claim and reported that three civilians were killed.
Pakistan's military has also made similar claims about the nationality of attackers. ISPR chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry recently said around 80% of suicide bombers involved in attacks in Pakistan were Afghan nationals, a claim which Afghan authorities have fully denied.
Asif's comments come amid a continued Pakistani campaign to return Afghan nationals. UNHCR figures show that more than 64,400 Afghans had returned from Pakistan during 2026 as of August 29, including many who had been forcefully deported from their homes.
The UN refugee agency has raised concerns over forced deportations, warning that some Afghans could face risks to their safety and freedom on returning home.
The remarks follow a deadly attack on a police compound and mosque in Kohat last week, which Pakistani authorities have blamed on militants operating from Afghanistan.
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