Muttaqi: We face ‘imposed war’ with Pakistan

The Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has said their administration is facing an “imposed war” with Pakistan as clashes between the two sides continue.

Addressing an iftar meeting with foreign diplomats at the Foreign Ministry in Kabul, Muttaqi blamed Pakistan for violating the ceasefire the two sides agreed on last year in Doha.

“We are facing an imposed war,” Muttaqi said. “Our defensive actions have always been carried out with caution and focused on specific targets. Our aim is centers from which actions are carried out against Afghanistan.”

Muttaqi also criticized Pakistan for citing the presence of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, as justification for its military operations, saying the issue is not new.

His remarks came as clashes between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops entered their 12th day on Monday, raising concerns about escalating tensions along the border.

Taliban said their forces destroyed a Pakistani border post in eastern Nangarhar province during the latest fighting.

Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the Taliban’s 201 Khalid bin Walid Corps, said the outpost was destroyed with mortar fire in the border areas of Goshta district.

Pakistani authorities have not commented on the claim.

Residents in Nangarhar said the renewed fighting has raised concerns among local communities.

The Taliban Defense Ministry also said a Pakistani surveillance drone was shot down after entering Afghanistan’s airspace during the recent clashes.

Meanwhile, sources told Amu that Taliban authorities returned the bodies of two Pakistani soldiers who were killed in the border fighting. The sources said Pakistan carried out a similar exchange of bodies in return, though details were not provided.

Pakistan’s information minister, Attaullah Tarar, has claimed that 583 Taliban fighters have been killed in the border clashes so far, while 795 others were wounded and 242 Taliban checkpoints destroyed.

Taliban have claimed that 327 Pakistani troops have been killed so far in the clashes.

Muttaqi also commented on the broader regional situation following recent joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

“Escalation of tensions in the region benefits no one,” he said. “We condemn violations of national sovereignty. Disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.”