Al-Qaeda Targets Pakistan’s Military Leadership, Warns Against Afghanistan Policy | Exclusive

Last Updated:April 29, 2026, 10:38 IST

The group vowed to extend “full support with its ability and energy” to the Afghan Taliban against what it described as Pakistan’s “civil-military hybrid regime”

Al-Qaeda has issued a sharply worded statement criticising Pakistan’s civil-military leadership and signalling support for the Afghan Taliban amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

In a two-page message attributed to its general leadership and circulated via the As-Sahab media wing on encrypted platforms through Shahada News Agency, the group vowed to extend “full support with its ability and energy" to the Afghan Taliban against what it described as Pakistan’s “civil-military hybrid regime".

The statement warned Pakistan to stay away from Afghanistan and accused its leadership of aligning with Western powers. It also framed global geopolitics as part of a broader “Zionist–Crusader system," a recurring narrative in the group’s ideology.

Al-Qaeda further portrayed the Taliban government in Afghanistan as part of a wider ideological shift in the region, while accusing Pakistan of acting against Afghan interests despite decades of shared militant history, including references to the anti-Soviet jihad.

The group also appealed directly to the people of Pakistan, including members of the security forces, urging them to disobey state orders and support what it described as “jihadist objectives." The statement called on Pakistanis to “repay some of their kindness," referencing past conflicts and framing support for its cause as a religious duty.

Security analysts say such messaging appears aimed at exploiting domestic grievances and anti-government sentiment in Pakistan, while also attempting to widen ideological support for militant groups in the region. The appeal to internal dissent, including within the military ranks, signals a continued effort by the group to destabilise Pakistan internally.

The statement comes against the backdrop of strained Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and periodic cross-border security tensions, which have periodically raised concerns about militant activity along the border region.

News world Al-Qaeda Targets Pakistan’s Military Leadership, Warns Against Afghanistan Policy | Exclusive

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