Afghan defence minister Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob calls Pakistan’s “proxy war” allegation baseless after border clashes; ceasefire reached after Doha talks.
Afghanistan’s Taliban on Oct. 22 rejected Pakistan’s allegation that Kabul is waging a “proxy war” on behalf of India, calling the charge baseless and warning that such claims will complicate an already fragile situation. The rebuttal came after weeks of deadly border clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces that killed soldiers and civilians on both sides before a ceasefire was brokered in Doha. Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, Afghanistan’s defence minister, told Al Jazeera that Afghanistan has never allowed its territory to be used against any other country and that Kabul’s ties with New Delhi and Islamabad are guided by national interest.
The cross-border fighting began after explosions in Kabul on Oct. 9, which Afghanistan blamed on Pakistan. Retaliatory operations on Oct. 11–12 escalated the confrontation, prompting diplomatic mediation by Qatar and Türkiye and a two-stage ceasefire announced on Oct. 15 and again on Oct. 19. Islamabad says it struck armed groups it accuses the Taliban of sheltering; Kabul denies those charges and stresses sovereign restraint. Analysts say the episode underscores fragile trust between Islamabad and Kabul and raises questions about spillover risks in border provinces.
What matters now for readers and policy watchers: verify ceasefire compliance through independent monitoring, watch diplomatic channels in Doha for follow-up talks, and track statements from defence ministries in Islamabad and Kabul for any change in posture. For search traffic, optimize the article with long-tail phrases such as “Taliban rejects Pakistan proxy war claim Oct 2025,” “Doha ceasefire Afghanistan Pakistan details,” and short keywords like “Taliban Pakistan clashes” and “Afghan defence minister response.” Timely updates and links to official statements will improve authority and ranking.
