Key points

  • Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry accused the Afghan Taliban of serving as a “proxy of Hindutva design” in relation to recent allegations from Nuristan province.
  • Islamabad alleges the Taliban’s rule is non‑inclusive, imposed by force, and aids terror networks for the benefit of greedy leaders.
  • The ministry warned that such destabilising behaviour could jeopardise regional security and undermine prospects for an inclusive Afghan government.
  • Pakistan said it will closely monitor developments and coordinate with international partners to prevent escalation.

The foreign ministry’s statement, released on Friday, linked the Taliban’s recent actions in Afghanistan’s remote Nuristan region to a broader “Hindutva” agenda allegedly promoted from across the border. Islamabad contended that the Afghan regime’s forced and exclusive governance style is being leveraged to further extremist designs that align with Indian right‑wing interests, a claim that adds a new dimension to the long‑standing rivalry between Islamabad and New Delhi.

According to Pakistani officials, the Taliban’s handling of the Nuristan allegations—where local leaders reported intimidation and the suppression of dissent—demonstrates a willingness to collaborate with terror outfits for the personal enrichment of the movement’s top brass. The ministry stressed that this “greedy” calculus not only fuels instability inside Afghanistan but also threatens Pakistan’s western provinces, where cross‑border infiltration and refugee flows already strain security and humanitarian resources.

The accusation arrives at a time when Afghanistan’s international isolation is deepening, and Pakistan is grappling with its own security challenges along the Durand Line. Islamabad indicated that it will engage with regional and global partners, including the United Nations and the United States, to ensure that any escalation does not spill over into Pakistani territory or exacerbate the already volatile situation for Afghan refugees and border communities.

Analysts note that the “Hindutva proxy” narrative reflects the broader geopolitical contest in South Asia, where both Islamabad and New Delhi vie for influence over Afghanistan’s future. Whether the Taliban’s policies in Nuristan will indeed serve external ideological agendas remains to be seen, but the Pakistani government’s warning underscores the fragile balance of power that could impact peace, trade, and security across the entire region.