ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected a statement attributed to the Afghan Taliban spokesperson regarding the Istanbul talks, which seeks to deliberately distort the facts.
In a post on X, Afghan news agency Ariana News quoted spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, saying that during the Istanbul talks, Afghanistan “was willing to deport people Islamabad considers a security threat,” but Pakistan did not accept the offer.
Rejecting the claim, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting stated in a post on X:
“When the Afghan side said that they were Pakistani nationals, Pakistan immediately proposed that they be handed over through designated border posts, consistent with Pakistan’s long-standing position,” adding that any claim to the contrary is false and misleading.
Pakistan also strongly rejected statements by the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with a TV channel on Saturday, regarding the recent Istanbul talks between delegations from both countries.
The spokesperson had accused Pakistan of undermining ties and accused it of conducting airstrikes on Afghan soil.
Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, responding to Mujahid’s allegations, issued a categorical statement on X dismissing the claims.
“There exists complete unanimity of views among all Pakistanis, including the country’s political and military leadership, regarding Pakistan’s security policies and its comprehensive approach toward Afghanistan,” he said.
He added that the people of Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are fully aware of the treacherous and barbaric patronization of Indian-sponsored terrorism by the Afghan Taliban regime.
“They harbor no illusions about its intent or conduct,” he noted.
The minister described the Taliban’s narrative as an attempt to deflect attention from its own failures.
“It is the non-representative Afghan Taliban regime that suffers from deep internal factionalism and is responsible for the continued oppression of Afghan ethnicities, women, children, and minorities,” he said. “Even after four years in power, the regime has failed to fulfill its promises to the international community.”
He said Pakistan’s policy remains consistent and focused on regional peace.
“Pakistan’s policy to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism and the perverted ideology of Khawarij remains unified, unwavering, and firmly anchored in national interest as well as in the pursuit of regional stability,” he emphasized.
