Islamabad (The COW News Digital )Pakistan’s security sources have claimed that up to 70 percent of militants involved in cross-border infiltration into Pakistan are linked to Afghanistan, as Islamabad continues to raise concerns over militant activity originating from Afghan territory.
According to the sources, 260 Afghan militants killed during security operations in Pakistan have been identified through their names, addresses and family details. The sources said the figure does not include unidentified militants or those who remain active.
The sources further claimed that funerals of the identified Afghan militants were held in their home areas in Afghanistan and that officials associated with the Taliban administration attended some of the funerals.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of attempting to conduct cross-border attacks. The issue has become a major point of contention between Islamabad and Kabul, particularly since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
United Nations monitoring reports have separately identified the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as one of the major militant groups operating from Afghanistan. A UN monitoring report estimated the TTP’s strength at around 6,000 fighters and said the group maintained a presence in Afghan provinces including Khost, Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktika and Paktya. The report also said the group had logistical and operational space in Afghanistan.
Pakistan refers to the TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Afghan authorities to prevent their territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently urged concrete and verifiable action to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.
Security sources also alleged that militants have access to weapons and equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. They claimed that weapons including M4 rifles, Remington sniper rifles and night-vision equipment have been recovered from or used by militants.
The sources further alleged that militant groups have established training facilities in Afghanistan’s Kunar, Nangarhar, Khost and Paktika provinces. They claimed that Afghan Taliban personnel had also been involved in some of these facilities. These allegations could not be independently verified.
Pakistan has also accused India of supporting militant groups operating from Afghan territory. Both India and the Afghan Taliban authorities have rejected such allegations in previous statements, making the issue part of a wider dispute between Islamabad, Kabul and New Delhi.
The security sources claimed that 1,327 Pakistanis had been killed and 2,484 injured in terrorism linked to attacks originating from Afghan territory during 2026. These figures are attributed to the security sources and were not independently verified in the material provided.
Pakistan has recently reported several attempted cross-border infiltrations and attacks. In early September, the military said security forces killed 15 militants while foiling an infiltration attempt along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
More recently, Pakistan reported that eight drones entering its airspace from Afghanistan were intercepted, while security sources said militant infiltration attempts had also been foiled.
Pakistan has also carried out strikes against what officials described as militant locations in Afghanistan, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar saying the action was taken in response to attacks and attempted drone incursions.
Islamabad’s stated position is that militant sanctuaries should be dismantled and cross-border infiltration into Pakistan should end. The continuing allegations and military incidents have added further strain to relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
