Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Friday that Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob’s criticism of Pakistan’s security forces cannot obscure the presence of militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

In a statement, the ministry described Yaqoob’s recent comments as a repetition of taunts and jibes and said: “Whatever the statement issued from the other side, it cannot mask the seriousness of this issue,” It added that the Taliban cannot deny the presence of anti-Pakistan militants on Afghan soil.

The ministry reiterated that sanctuaries for militant groups, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), remain a “serious concern” and said the matter has been raised “with utmost seriousness” in high-level discussions between Taliban and Pakistani officials.

It said the continued presence of militants in Afghanistan is a major issue disrupting bilateral relations and a “main obstacle” to greater engagement. Pakistan urged the Taliban to address what it called a “very serious issue.”

Yaqoob said in a recent television interview that Pakistan blames Afghanistan for attacks on its soil to hide the weaknesses of its security forces. He argued that the attacks occur hundreds of kilometres from the Afghan border. He also acknowledged that tense relations between the neighbours are harming both countries.

International organisations estimate that about 6,000 Pakistani Taliban fighters are currently based in Afghanistan, where TTP militants and other extremist groups are reported to receive training.