Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesman, has warned against any Pakistani military operations inside Afghan soil and said that Islamabad should not enter Afghan territory under the pretext of “self-defense.”

Mujahid, in an interview with Al-Arabiya English published on Friday September 18, the 27th of Sunbula, emphasized the expansion of the Taliban’s relations with Saudi Arabia and welcomed Riyadh’s role in Afghanistan’s reconstruction process and efforts to ensure peace and stability in the country.

According to him, Saudi Arabia can also play a mediating role in reducing the existing differences and tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.

Riyadh had previously mediated to resolve some differences between the two sides as well.

The Taliban spokesman also referred to the issue of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of sheltering members of this group in Afghanistan and of using Afghan soil to plan and carry out attacks in Pakistan — an accusation the Taliban has rejected.

Mujahid added that Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Baloch groups, and other groups opposed to Islamabad have been active inside Pakistan for years, and security problems related to them should not be attributed to Afghanistan.

At the same time, he said that the Taliban will not allow any attack against Pakistan to be carried out from Afghan soil and emphasized that the group’s policy is to prevent the use of Afghan territory against other countries.

In conclusion, Mujahid warned that if Pakistani forces enter Afghan soil or conduct military operations in the country, the Taliban will defend Afghan territory.

It is worth noting that tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue to this day.