{
  "id": 383081,
  "title": "Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims of weapons smuggled into Afghanistan as 'frivolous, baseless'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/pakistan-rejects-afghan-taliban-claims-of-weapons-smuggled-into",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-09T14:45:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2021712/pakistan-rejects-afghan-taliban-claims-of-weapons-smuggled-into-afghanistan-as-frivolous-baseless"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dismissed claims from the Afghan Taliban that weapons have been smuggled from Pakistan into Afghanistan as \"frivolous\" and \"baseless\". The ministry stated that the Taliban's assertion is contrary to established facts and noted that Afghanistan already possesses a significant amount of sophisticated weapons and military equipment abandoned after the US and coalition forces withdrew. This equipment, valued at an estimated $7.2 billion, was left behind during the withdrawal, alongside large stockpiles of Soviet-era weaponry accumulated over years of conflict. The ministry emphasized that claims linking Pakistan to such weapons are likely an attempt to divert international attention from the more serious issue of terrorist groups operating on Afghan soil. The ministry urged the Taliban to address the presence of terrorist sanctuaries on their territory and fulfill their commitments to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan or any other nation. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to curtail terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and prevent attacks against Pakistan from Afghanistan's soil. Despite these appeals, officials claim the Taliban has ignored them. In November 2025, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces highlighted that terrorism originating from across the border would be dealt with harshly. In November 2025, Pakistan warned the UN Security Council that terrorist groups based in Afghanistan, acquiring abandoned weapons, pose a threat to peace and security not only in Pakistan but also in the region.",
  "summary": "The Pakistan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dismissed claims by the Afghan Taliban that weapons are being smuggled into Afghanistan from Pakistan as \"frivolous\" and \"baseless\". The ministry highlighted the vast quantities of abandoned US and coalition weapons left behind after their withdrawal, as well as the Soviet-era weaponry accumulated over decades, as evidence that the Taliban's accusations are unfounded. Furthermore, the ministry emphasized that the Taliban should instead address the issue of terrorist sanctuaries on their territory and their commitments to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan or other countries. Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to rein in terrorist groups operating from their territory, with the Chief of Defence Forces asserting that terrorism originating from across the border would be dealt with severely.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Women's Day: President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks out against the Taliban's ban on Afghan women",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/womens-day-president-cyril-ramaphosa-speaks-out-against-the-talibans",
        "published": "2026-08-09T13:20:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims of weapons smuggled into Afghanistan as 'frivolous, baseless'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/pakistan-rejects-afghan-taliban-claims-of-weapons-smuggled-into-385543",
        "published": "2026-08-09T14:45:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Women still don’t have equal share of SA’s wealth and land: Ramaphosa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/women-still-dont-have-equal-share-of-sas-wealth-and-land-ramaphosa",
        "published": "2026-08-09T17:00:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}