In recent statements, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), placed blame on Pakistan for allegedly providing safe havens to the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). Mujahid claimed that the arrest of an Afghan national involved in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing, while on Pakistani soil, was indicative of ISKP’s presence in Pakistan. He also stressed that the issue of terrorism has “nothing to do with Afghanistan.” However, this blame-shifting perspective misses the larger context of Afghanistan’s failure to control its borders and the profound consequences Pakistan has had to endure due to Afghanistan’s persistent instability.
The arrest of an individual on Pakistani soil, though significant, does not automatically equate to ISKP establishing a haven within Pakistan. If anything, it is a direct consequence of Afghanistan’s inability to secure its porous borders, which has allowed terrorists to freely cross into Pakistan, fueling attacks on its soil. Pakistan has long urged Afghan authorities to step up border controls, but the lack of effective border management on the Afghan side has created a dangerous vacuum. This allows militant groups to infiltrate Pakistan disguised as civilians, escaping the reach of stringent security measures on the Pakistani side.
It is critical to note that while incidents like these underscore the security challenges in the region, the roots and operational base of ISKP remain firmly planted within Afghanistan. The group continues to orchestrate major attacks from Afghan territory, including the assassination of Khalil-ur-Rehman Haqqani, a senior figure within the Taliban, which serves as undeniable evidence of ISKP’s ongoing operations in Afghanistan, not Pakistan. The fact that the IEA has even been carrying out operations against ISKP within Afghanistan itself further reinforces the reality that the group’s stronghold is inside Afghan borders.
Blaming Pakistan for ISKP’s actions is not only unjust but also a diversion from the real issue at hand: Afghanistan’s inability to dismantle the group despite claiming full control over its territory. The failure of Afghan authorities to secure their borders and curb cross-border movements continues to pose a growing regional threat. For years, Pakistan has paid the price of Afghanistan’s instability, bearing the brunt of a war it never initiated.
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Over the past few decades, Pakistan has suffered immensely due to Afghanistan’s crises. More than 80,000 Pakistani lives have been lost in the fight against terrorism, much of which can be attributed to cross-border militant activity originating from Afghanistan. Economically, Pakistan has endured direct and indirect losses amounting to over $450 billion. To put this in perspective, this figure far surpasses any aid Pakistan has received in return, with $126 billion in U.S. aid being largely a reimbursement under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for Pakistan’s role in the war on terror. The actual cost to Pakistan, in terms of human and material loss, is immeasurable.
From 2001 to 2017, Pakistan suffered an annual economic loss of $7.7 billion due to the instability in Afghanistan. This brought the total loss to over $123 billion, a staggering sum that is more than the country’s entire expenditure on education, health, and social welfare combined. Meanwhile, the international community, particularly Western nations, turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s sacrifices and the toll it was paying in the fight against terrorism, which was largely exacerbated by Afghanistan’s instability. Instead of receiving financial support for the damage caused by Afghanistan’s turmoil, Pakistan received minimal assistance in the form of reimbursements for military operations. This has done little to repair the immense damage that has been inflicted on its economy, infrastructure, and social fabric.
Beyond the economic consequences, the continuous instability in Afghanistan has crippled Pakistan’s infrastructure and social services, leading to a massive internal displacement crisis. Millions of Afghan refugees have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years, straining Pakistan’s economy and further complicating its demographic challenges. The presence of these refugees has deepened societal tensions, disrupted local communities, and added immense pressure on Pakistan’s already overburdened public services.
The instability in Afghanistan has also radicalized segments of Pakistani society, contributing to the rise of extremism, sectarian violence, and long-term internal security threats. The spillover of militant ideologies and cross-border terrorism continues to be one of Pakistan’s greatest security challenges.
The real cost of Afghanistan’s turmoil is not only measured in lives lost or economic setbacks but in the missed opportunities for Pakistan’s growth. The country has been locked out of global investments, as the constant threat of terrorism and political instability in Afghanistan has led Western nations to avoid economic engagement with Pakistan. Despite its sacrifices in ensuring regional security, Pakistan continues to bear the economic, human, and social costs of Afghanistan’s endless crises.
In this context, the statements by Zabihullah Mujahid blaming Pakistan for ISKP’s presence on its soil are not just misplaced but a denial of the real challenges Afghanistan faces in tackling terrorism within its own borders. While Pakistan remains steadfast in its efforts to combat terrorism, the failure of Afghanistan to secure its own territory and dismantle terrorist networks has put immense strain on Pakistan, and the broader region.
Ultimately, the blame game serves no one. It is high time that Afghanistan acknowledges its responsibility in securing its borders and countering terrorist groups within its own territory. Only through effective governance and regional cooperation can both countries hope to rid the region of the scourge of terrorism and bring about lasting peace. Until then, Pakistan will continue to bear the consequences of Afghanistan’s instability, a situation that is both unjust and untenable for a country that has already sacrificed so much.
The path forward lies not in the blame game, but in collaboration. It is imperative that both Pakistan and Afghanistan engage in open, constructive dialogue to address shared security concerns. Afghanistan must take responsibility for securing its borders and dismantling terrorist networks within its own territory, while Pakistan must continue its efforts to manage cross-border movement and prevent the infiltration of militants. Only through mutual cooperation can both countries hope to achieve lasting peace and security in the region.
Until Afghanistan fulfills its responsibility in addressing the terrorism emanating from its soil, Pakistan will continue to bear the consequences of its instability. This situation, which is both unjust and unsustainable, underscores the urgent need for both countries to work together in the pursuit of regional stability and peace. Only through collective action can the scourge of terrorism be defeated, and the path toward lasting peace and prosperity be ensured for both nations.
