New Delhi: Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Interior, Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, has delivered a forceful warning to Pakistan, saying that while Kabul continues to favour diplomacy and dialogue, it will not tolerate violations of its sovereignty or interference in its internal affairs.
In an address in Kabul on Thursday, Haqqani acknowledged that Afghanistan, like any other country, faces its share of domestic challenges. Yet, he said, the Afghan nation remains united in the defense of its independence.
“The people of Afghanistan may have internal problems,” he remarked, “but they stand united against any foreign invader. The defense of our territory is among our top priorities.
We do not seek confrontation with anyone, but if aggression is committed against us,we have stood against the emperors of the world and it is not difficult for us to defend our land.”
Haqqani’s comments come amid heightened tensions along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, where each side has accused the other of cross-border violations and of harbouring terrorist groups.
The statement by the all powerful Haqqani came even as talks between the two sides have resumed in Istanbul after collapsing on 28 October.
While he did not name any specific incident, the message was clearly directed toward Islamabad, which has in recent weeks complained of terrorist activity allegedly operating from Afghan soil.
The Taliban interior minister’s tone was simultaneously defensive and assertive portraying Afghanistan as a nation seeking peace but ready for war if provoked.
“One side, in order to safeguard its own interests, infringes upon the sovereignty of other nations,” Haqqani said, in what appeared to be a pointed reference to Pakistan. “Afghans have been tried on the battlefield, and if our patience is tested once more, the reply will be devastating.”
He added that Afghanistan’s strength lies not in its weaponry but in its resolve.
“Though we do not possess long-range missiles or advanced weaponry, our determination and faith are firm. We can overcome any circumstances and attain victory.
Martyrdoms and imprisonments could not divert us from our path, and with the help of Allah Almighty, we will once again prevail in every field.”
Haqqani also revealed that the Afghan government has raised its concerns with Pakistan repeatedly through diplomatic and institutional channels, urging Islamabad to resolve its domestic challenges rather than exporting them across the border.
“We have raised this issue with Pakistan in multiple meetings and through various channels,” he said. “Solve your internal problems at home. If you bring this problem into Afghanistan, you will create unrest here and other hostilities will follow. Know that this mistake will ultimately be yours and it will come at a very high cost.”
The Taliban administration has repeatedly denied Pakistan’s accusations that terrorists use Afghan territory to stage attacks, while also accusing Islamabad of conducting border strikes and violating Afghan airspace.
Haqqani’s remarks appear designed to position the Taliban government as both a responsible actor willing to engage in dialogue and a defiant power unwilling to bow to external pressure.
His invocation of Afghanistan’s past struggles against “the emperors of the world” a likely reference to the Soviet Union and the United States was seen as a reminder of the Taliban’s own narrative of resistance and survival.
