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'Baseless claims': Afghanistan denies India's role in Pakistan conflict; rejects Islamabad's accusations

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Afghanistan ’s defence minister , Mullah Yaqoob, has denied claims that India played any role in the recent clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan .

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Yaqoob called the allegations baseless. “These claims are baseless. Afghanistan has never allowed its territory to be used by another country. We are an independent nation, and our relations with India and Pakistan are guided solely by national interest,” he said.

Violence erupted on October 11, just days after explosions in Kabul during a rare visit by Taliban foreign minister Amir Muttaqi to India. Soon after, Taliban fighters launched attacks along the southern border with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad's response.


Pakistan blamed India for the border incidents with Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, saying that the Taliban leadership was “sitting in India’s lap” and warning of a “heavy price” for cross-border terrorism.

Responding to this, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Three things are clear. One, Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. Three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories. India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan."

Also read: Pakistan's Mohsin Naqvi declines to release India's Asia Cup trophy; BCCI to take issue to ICC

India and Afghanistan have been strengthening ties. During his recent six-day visit to India, Afghanistan’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi engaged in discussions to deepen diplomatic and economic relations.

On Tuesday, India formally reopened its embassy in Kabul, upgrading its limited Technical Mission to a full-fledged diplomatic presence.
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