ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government Monday to stop militants from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan, renewing a warning that the same armed groups could eventually threaten the Taliban’s own rule.
Tensions between the neighbors have escalated amid repeated border clashes and Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, deepening a longstanding dispute over militant activity. The United Nations Mission in Afghanistan said in September that it had documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries from cross-border violence in Afghanistan this year.
In a speech at a think tank broadcast on Pakistani television, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said he had already delivered a warning once to Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, during a visit to Kabul in July 2025.
“I politely reminded him that if the Afghan authorities failed to take appropriate action against terrorist groups operating from their territory, the day would come when these very groups would threaten his government as well,” Dar said.
He gave no details of Afghanistan's response, and there was no immediate comment from Kabul.
Pakistan frequently accuses Kabul of sheltering the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, as well as the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent, an affiliate of the global extremist network. The TTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban. Dar did not explain why he assumed that militants could turn against the Afghan Taliban.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has repeatedly denied providing a safe haven for militants targeting Pakistan.
Dar said Pakistan’s diplomatic and economic overtures to Kabul had yielded no meaningful progress on its central security demand: action against militants operating from Afghan soil.
“Good neighborly relations are a two-way responsibility,” he said. “They cannot mean silently absorbing one attack after another.”
Dar said he visited Kabul three times in 2025 as Pakistan sought to expand trade, upgraded diplomatic representation to the ambassadorial level, and pursued a railway linking Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan wanted a stable and prosperous Afghanistan but could no longer ignore what he described as a continuing militant threat from across the border.
“Attacks inside Pakistan are planned, directed and launched from across the border,” he said. “Terrorists infiltrate through mountainous terrain, target our soldiers and civilians, and retreat to their sanctuaries.”
Dar said Pakistan's military has completed nearly 95% of a fence along the border, more than 2,600 kilometers (1,600 miles) long, with Afghanistan. The fence was begun in 2017, after militants cross-border attacks on Pakistani army posts.
Dar described the TTP as one of Pakistan’s gravest security threats, citing attacks on schools, mosques, markets, and security installations. He also accused the separatist BLA of targeting civilians, security personnel, and economic infrastructure.
Pakistan says more than 2,800 militant attacks since January have killed or wounded about 300 people.
Speaking at the same event as Dar on Monday, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar blamed the surge in violence on Afghanistan-based militants, including the TTP. Citing U.N. and independent assessments, Tarar said Afghanistan hosts more than 6,000 TTP fighters and more than 20,000 militants overall.
He accused the TTP of using Afghan territory to recruit, train and plan attacks on Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021.
FILE - Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar speaks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow on Nov. 18, 2025. (Shamil Zhumatov/Pool Photo via AP, File)
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) — Australia set South Africa a 421-run target and the Proteas were laboring at 102-4 after the first full day of cricket in the first test at Kingsmead on Monday.
Another innings-leading score by Matt Renshaw of 82 helped Australia declare its second innings at 314-6 just before scheduled tea.
Bad light ended play early on the previous three days but sunshine allowed the action to continue past 4:30 p.m. local time for the first time in the test for another hour in an extended three-hour session.
Unable to be saved by bad light, South Africa lost two more wickets after 4:30 p.m.; captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs, both on 1.
At stumps, Aiden Markram was 45 not out with Wiaan Mulder on 5 and South Africa was struggling on a decent pitch at 2.48 runs per over, especially against spinners Nathan Lyon and part-timer Renshaw.
Renshaw was enjoying a dream test: A career-best 190 followed by a 99-ball 82 and a bonus first test wicket. He got Bavuma bat-pad and caught at short leg by Nic Maddinson.
South Africa had already lost Ryan Rickelton on 2, out caught off Josh Hazlewood for a second time in the match, and David Bedingham, out lbw to Hazlewood. Again, Bedingham fell short of a half-century, 46 following 49 in the first innings.
Pat Cummins claimed the fourth wicket when Stubbs was caught behind. South Africa was 86-4 and facing a tall task on the final day.
Australia resumed from 33-0 overnight and was 174-4 by lunch.
Maddinson set the tone for a faster scoring pace with 48 off 38 balls, including two sixes, and negating his duck in the first innings. Fellow opener Travis Head was out for 11.
Australia had two aggressive partnerships in the morning.
Steve Smith (27) and Marnus Labuschagne (37) added 53 off 77 balls.
Smith was hit on the head off Anrich Nortje’s rising delivery and didn’t field during South Africa’s second innings pending the result of a concussion test. Smith has a history of concussion and vertigo. He continued after the knock on his helmet and was out caught off Simon Harmer.
Labuschagne and Renshaw added 32 off 31 balls before lunch when Labuschagne mis-hit a drive and was out for 37 off 58 balls, identical to his first innings figures. Its the 12th known instance of runs scored and balls faced in men's test cricket.
Australia lost four wickets in the morning but led by 280 runs at lunch.
After the break, Renshaw reached 50 off 75 balls while Nortje bowled Carey for 24. The duo took Australia past 200.
Renshaw and Beau Webster added 65 off 71 balls when Renshaw fell after spinner Keshav Maharaj took a surprising return catch. Renshaw finished the test with 272 runs.
Captain Cummins had one eye on a declaration as the lead passed 400. He and Webster added 44 off only 19 balls. Webster was 39 not out off 43 balls and Cummins had 32 off 12 with four sixes, three in one over by Harmer.
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South Africa's Anrich Nortje celebrates after bowling Australia's Alex Carey on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Aiden Markram attempt a catch off Australia's Matt Renshaw on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's Josh Hazlewood, left, successfully appeals for LBW against South Africa's David Bedingham on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's Matt Renshaw, center, on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne plays a high ball on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa's Simon Harmer, right, celebrates a wicket with his captain Temba Bavuma on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's Marnus Labuschagne looks on as he leaves the field following his dismissal on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia's Matt Renshaw misplay a short ball on day four of the first cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Durban, South Africa, Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
