The spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Musharraf Zaidi, has strongly rejected recent allegations made by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, accusing Pakistan of supporting ISIS. Zaidi described the claims as baseless and an attempt by the Taliban to deflect attention from their continued support for terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
His remarks came after Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with a media outlet, accused Pakistan of backing ISIS and alleged that certain elements within Pakistan’s military establishment were providing support and funding to the group for strategic purposes. Mujahid further claimed that a recent deadly attack targeting Shia worshippers in Islamabad was the result of Pakistan’s alleged support and facilitation of ISIS, warning that such policies would ultimately harm both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Responding via the social media platform X, Zaidi dismissed these allegations and pointed to documented findings of the United Nations Security Council that present a different reality. He emphasized that official UN reports confirm the presence and operational activities of multiple terrorist organizations inside Afghanistan, including TTP, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K).
Zaidi stressed that the Taliban are attempting to attribute ongoing violence to ISIS while simultaneously denying the presence of TTP within Afghanistan. According to him, UN documentation clearly demonstrates that these groups not only operate within Afghanistan but are expanding their footprint, effectively turning the country into a safe haven for terrorist organizations.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson further rejected the Taliban’s claim that Al-Qaeda, ISIS-K, and TTP operate independently of one another. He described this narrative as an attempt to obscure the complexity of the issue. In his view, these groups share overlapping recruitment pools, financing channels, logistical networks, and maintain operational coordination, making distinctions between them largely artificial.
Zaidi reiterated that Pakistan has consistently presented evidence showing that terrorist activities impacting Pakistan originate from Afghan territory. Despite repeated calls for accountability and cooperation, he said, the Taliban administration continues to divert attention from its responsibilities by advancing unfounded accusations against Pakistan and its institutions.
Pakistan remains committed to regional peace, counterterrorism cooperation, and constructive engagement. However, officials have underscored that durable stability in the region requires acknowledgment of realities on the ground, credible action against terrorist safe havens, and an end to narratives designed to deflect responsibility.
