Kabul: The Taliban has issued a strong warning to Pakistan against launching any military operation inside Afghanistan, saying any attempt by Pakistani forces to enter Afghan territory would be met with resistance.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Islamabad should not invoke “self-defence” as a justification for military action inside Afghanistan. He warned that if Pakistani forces cross into Afghanistan or conduct operations on Afghan soil, the Taliban would defend the country’s territorial integrity.

In an interview with Al Arabiya English, Mujahid said the Taliban was seeking to further strengthen its ties with Saudi Arabia and welcomed Riyadh’s role in supporting Afghanistan’s reconstruction, peace and stability.

He also suggested that Saudi Arabia could help ease the growing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to Mujahid, Riyadh has previously played a mediating role between the two sides.

Mujahid said that following Saudi mediation on 17 February last year, the Taliban released three Pakistani soldiers who had been captured during clashes along the border.

The warning comes against the backdrop of long-running tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of allowing members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory and use it to plan attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban has rejected the allegations.

Mujahid said Afghanistan should not be held responsible for problems involving the TTP, Baloch groups and other organisations involved in conflict with Pakistan. He claimed that such groups had been active inside Pakistan for many years.

The Taliban spokesman further maintained that his government does not permit the TTP to use Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan. He said the Taliban’s policy was clear that Afghan soil must not be used against another country.

Reiterating his warning to Islamabad, Mujahid said Pakistan should not conduct military operations inside Afghanistan under the pretext of self-defence. He said any entry by Pakistani forces or military action on Afghan soil would prompt the Taliban to defend Afghanistan’s territorial integrity.