Stories
Taliban Accuses Pakistan of Afghan Strikes to Exit Mecca Pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkey
- •Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid alleges Pakistan's strikes in Afghanistan are a pretext to withdraw from the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
- •The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, signed on August 7, 2026, is a trilateral security pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, similar to NATO's collective-defence principle.
- •Mujahid claims Pakistan is deliberately portraying a war with Afghanistan to escape its commitments under the pact and divert attention from domestic problems.
- •The Taliban spokesman accused Pakistan of coordinating with Saudi Arabia and Turkey over the strikes, though he provided no evidence.
- •Pakistani airstrikes reportedly killed four civilians in Afghan provinces, including Kandahar, following a militant attack in northern Pakistan that killed 31 people.
Key Questions Answered
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid alleged that Pakistan carried out strikes in Afghanistan to create a pretext to withdraw from the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He claimed Islamabad is deliberately framing the situation as a war to escape its commitments under the pact.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is a trilateral security pact signed on August 7, 2026, between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan. Under the agreement, an armed attack on one member is treated as an attack on all three.
According to Afghan authorities, recent Pakistani airstrikes hit several Afghan provinces, including Kandahar, killing four civilians. Pakistan's information minister stated that forces struck 10 targets, linking the military actions to militant threats and terrorist sanctuaries originating from Afghanistan.
