Pakistan Rejects Afghan Claims Linking It to Nuristan Fighting

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday 27 September 2026 rejected claims by Afghanistan's defence ministry that Pakistan sent armed groups into Nuristan province. The ministry called the allegations "frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth", according to Radio Pakistan.

The Afghan defence ministry had said its forces killed 28 fighters and captured 32 in Kamdesh district of Nuristan, and that the groups crossed from Pakistan. Pakistan says no evidence was produced. We set out what each side said, and what is still unconfirmed.

Pakistan's information ministry called the claims baseless

Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting rejected every part of the Afghan claim on 27 September 2026. It said Pakistan's security forces and intelligence agencies played no part in any clashes in Nuristan or elsewhere in Afghanistan, and that no evidence was offered.

The ministry made the statement in a post on X. Radio Pakistan, the state broadcaster, carried the full text the same day. We read the Radio Pakistan report.

The ministry said Pakistan "categorically rejects" three things. First, any role for its forces or agencies in the Nuristan clashes. Second, the claim that it recruited or trained former Afghan security personnel. Third, the claim that it helped Daesh, the group also called Islamic State, or any other armed group in Afghanistan.

It said "not a shred of evidence" had been produced. It listed what was missing: identities, documents, communications, forensic evidence and independent checking.

Afghanistan's defence ministry says 28 were killed in Kamdesh

Afghanistan's defence ministry said armed groups crossed into Kamdesh district of Nuristan from Pakistan, and that its forces killed 28 and captured 32. These figures are the ministry's own claim. No independent source has confirmed them, and Pakistan rejects the account.

We could not open the Afghan defence ministry's website on 27 September, so the claim here is as reported. According to those reports, the ministry said the fighting happened "yesterday", which would be Saturday 26 September.

The ministry also said, as reported, that most of the fighters were former Afghan security personnel. It alleged they had been taken to Pakistan, trained and sent back. It said the rest of the group fled back across the border.

Nuristan is a mountain province in eastern Afghanistan. Kamdesh district lies close to the border with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral region.

The two accounts differ on every key point

The two governments agree on almost nothing beyond the place name. Afghanistan says fighters came from Pakistan with Pakistani support. Pakistan says it had no role and that the Afghan side has shown no proof. Neither account has been independently checked.

Pakistan's statement also addressed a video shared on social media. It said the video shows "a few unarmed individuals" being arrested and called it pre-planned. We have not seen the video and cannot say who is in it.

Pakistan asked Kabul to act against armed groups

Pakistan turned the charge back on Afghanistan. The ministry said armed groups operate from Afghan soil and asked the Taliban government to take "credible and verifiable action" against them, and to keep its promise that Afghan territory will not be used for attacks on Pakistan.

The ministry pointed to United Nations reports on armed groups inside Afghanistan. It said those groups still find "sanctuary" there.

This is Pakistan's long-held position. At the Foreign Office briefing on 17 September 2026, the spokesperson said Qatar and Türkiye had helped with talks, including rounds in Qatar and Istanbul last year. He said Afghanistan had refused to give an assurance that attacks from its soil would stop. He also said Pakistan wants to settle issues "through dialogue and diplomacy".

The statement comes during a hard month inside Pakistan. A vehicle bomb at a checkpost in the Dera Ismail Khan attack on 26 September killed 11 people, Radio Pakistan said. Security forces also reported dozens killed in operations in Balochistan since 21 September.

Nothing official has changed at the border crossings yet

We found no official notice on 27 September 2026 about the Torkham or Chaman crossings linked to this dispute. The statements from both sides dealt only with the claims. Travellers and traders should check with official channels before setting out.

Border rules between the two countries can change quickly. Anyone planning a crossing should:

1. Check for announcements from the Ministry of Interior and the Foreign Office.
2. Check with the district administration for Khyber or Chaman.
3. Carry every travel document you normally need, and nothing expired.
4. Avoid acting on forwarded messages that cite no official source.
5. Check again on the day of travel, since plans can change within hours.

Afghan students in Pakistan may be worried too. On 17 September the spokesperson said Afghan students with a valid visa and a valid course can stay and finish their studies. Pakistan's other land borders run under different rules, such as the 24-hour Iran crossings.

Common questions

What did Afghanistan claim about Nuristan?

Its defence ministry said, as reported, that groups crossed from Pakistan into Kamdesh district, and that its forces killed 28 and captured 32. It alleged Pakistani support.

How did Pakistan respond?

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting called the claims "frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth" and said no evidence had been produced.

Has anyone independently confirmed the 28 deaths?

No. The figure comes only from Afghanistan's defence ministry, as reported. We found no independent confirmation on 27 September 2026.

Did Pakistan admit any contact with the fighters?

No. Pakistan denied recruiting or training former Afghan security personnel and denied helping Daesh or any other group.

Are the Torkham and Chaman crossings closed?

We found no official notice linked to this dispute on 27 September. Check with the Ministry of Interior or the district administration before travel.

Last checked and sources

Last checked on 27 September 2026 at about 22:45 PKT. Pakistan's position, including the words "frivolous, baseless and devoid of any truth", the denials and the comment on the video, is from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting statement as carried in full by Radio Pakistan. The Foreign Office lines on mediation and Afghan students are from the 17 September 2026 briefing transcript. Afghanistan's claims are as reported, because we could not reach the Afghan defence ministry's website. We found no official border notice linked to this dispute.