A senior Lashkar-e-Taiba leader has publicly endorsed Asim Munir’s elevation as Pakistan’s first Chief of Defence Forces while issuing a pointed warning to Afghanistan over its alleged failure to curb anti-Pakistan militancy. Qari Yaqoob Sheikh, a close aide of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, said that if Kabul does not prevent its territory from being used for attacks on Pakistan, the militant group is prepared to stand alongside the Pakistan Army in a direct confrontation.
In a video message, Sheikh praised Afghans living in Pakistan and said they “deserve to be rewarded” for their past sacrifices. He argued that every nation has the right to take whatever measures are necessary for its security and claimed that General Munir’s decisions have strengthened “trust and respect” among religious leaders.
Sheikh also welcomed a joint fatwa issued by clerics in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan, declaring that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against any country. He said that if the Afghan Taliban assure Pakistan that no anti-Islamabad activity will originate from their territory, bilateral ties could reach “new heights.” Pakistan, he added, has long supported Afghanistan as a “brother Islamic country” and has hosted refugees for decades.
Calling for an explicit commitment from Kabul, Sheikh said the Afghan Taliban must “clearly announce” that no attack on Pakistan will be launched from Afghan soil. Without such an assurance, he warned, LeT would stand “firmly with the Pakistan Army” for Pakistan’s defence.
His remarks come against the backdrop of escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. An overnight exchange of fire last week killed five Afghan civilians and injured several others, while Pakistan reported three civilian injuries. Each side accused the other of violating a fragile ceasefire implemented two months ago to halt repeated clashes. The border unrest intensified following explosions in Kabul on October 9, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan and vowed to avenge.
