Taliban Ministers Visiting India Raise Eyebrows in Islamabad as Delhi-Kabul Ties Strengthen

Islamabad/New Delhi: The recent surge in attacks on Pakistani security forces has brought the Islamabad government under intense pressure. In response, the Pakistani administration, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has sought to shift the blame toward neighboring countries, particularly India and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Information Minister Ataullah Tarar claimed that the growing cooperation between India and Afghanistan is contributing to instability in Pakistan. Speaking amid escalating attacks by militant groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Tarar alleged that these groups receive support from across the border. “You can see Afghan government ministers visiting India almost every other day for extended meetings,” he said. “What kind of discussions are taking place? What trade or cooperation requires multi-day consultations? Everything in these meetings does not seem transparent.”

Funding Allegations Against India
Tarar further accused India of indirectly supporting groups targeting Pakistan: “Those carrying out attacks inside Pakistan aim to destabilize the country. They operate on a foreign-funded agenda. What kind of Islam is this, that they take funds from India and carry out blasts in Pakistan? We will counter their agenda.” His statement comes after Pakistan recorded 5,397 terrorist attacks in 2025, with 3,811 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and 1,557 in Balochistan.

Strengthening Delhi-Kabul Ties
India-Afghanistan relations have improved significantly in recent months, causing unease in Islamabad. In October 2025, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India—the first official visit by a Taliban leader since 2021. This was followed by a December 2025 visit from Afghanistan’s Health Minister Noor Jalal to Delhi. Pakistan perceives these visits as part of a broader conspiracy against its interests.

Pakistan’s Accusations Dismissed by India and Afghanistan
Islamabad routinely alleges that India supports groups operating from Afghan territory to target Pakistani forces in KP and Balochistan. Pakistan claims these groups receive funding from India. However, both New Delhi and Kabul have categorically rejected these allegations as baseless.