October 14, 2025

New Delhi has stirred the pot as the Taliban openly supported India’s sovereignty over Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), sparking a fierce reaction from Pakistan. This comes during a time when relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are already boiling over due to heavy fighting along their shared border. The Taliban’s bold move surfaced through a joint statement after India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The statement confirmed that both India and the Taliban-backed Afghanistan respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity—this was a clear nod to India's hold over J&K. Pakistan saw red. Islamabad believes Afghanistan is opening a new front against it by officially recognizing J&K as a part of India. Pakistan angrily protested this mention, calling it a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and the legal status of J&K. But New Delhi sees the statement differently. It says the mention highlights how India and Afghanistan share a border, especially through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) slice that touches Afghanistan for 106 kilometers. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of this relationship, saying, "As a contiguous neighbour and a well-wisher of the Afghan people, India has a deep interest in Afghanistan’s development and progress." Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned Afghanistan's ambassador to express that the joint statement was "highly insensitive." Adding fuel to the fire, former Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari slammed the Taliban, accusing them of abandoning the Kashmiri people and doing injustice to "history as well as Muslim Ummah." The border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan have worsened in the last few days, coinciding with Muttaqi's visit to India. At a press conference held at the Afghan embassy, Muttaqi didn't hold back: he accused “certain elements” in Pakistan of stirring trouble. He also warned, "If Pakistan doesn’t want peace, Afghanistan has other options as well." On the controversial issue of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters allegedly hiding in Afghanistan, Muttaqi shot down the claims. He said, "The border is 2400-km long. Neither 'chengez (Genghis Khan)' nor 'angrez (Englishmen)' could control it. Strength alone cannot control it. If Pakistan wants peace, they have a bigger army and better intelligence—why are they not controlling it? This fight is inside Pakistan. Instead of blaming us, they should control the problems on their soil." Muttaqi also assured that despite the clashes, the situation was "now under control." He revealed that after Afghanistan’s swift retaliation on Pakistan’s border escalation, they paused military action following appeals by Qatar and Saudi Arabia: "We achieved our military objectives last night...The situation is now under control. We only want good relations and peace. Afghanistan is finally free and is working for peace...Pakistan doesn't want good relations and peace, then Afghanistan has other options as well." This fiery exchange marks a new chapter in the complicated South Asian saga. With Taliban’s ground-breaking admission and heated border skirmishes, the region waits with bated breath to see what will happen next!

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Tags: Taliban, India, Jammu and kashmir, Pakistan-afghanistan clashes, S jaishankar, Amir khan muttaqi,