US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Washington was aware of Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism originating from Afghan territory and would be willing to help if it could make a productive contribution.
Speaking at a press briefing in Atlanta, Georgia, Rubio said Pakistan was concerned that terrorist attacks were being supported from Afghanistan and believed the Afghan Taliban had not done enough to prevent them.
“Pakistan is concerned about terrorist attacks that are being sponsored from the territory of Afghanistan,” Rubio said, acknowledging Islamabad’s concerns about the Taliban administration’s response.
US Acknowledges Pakistan’s Concerns
Rubio said Washington had heard Pakistan’s concerns and did not want the country to remain a target of terrorist attacks.
He also noted that the United States did not have particularly close relations with the Afghan Taliban but had taken note of the concerns raised by Islamabad and the attacks Pakistan had highlighted.
“If there’s a productive role for us to play, we’ll play it,” Rubio said.
He added that the United States opposed terrorism regardless of where it originated or whom it targeted.
Cross-Border Tensions
Rubio’s remarks came amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan over recurring cross-border attacks and security concerns.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban administration to prevent militant organisations, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), from using Afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan has disputed Taliban assurances that Afghan soil would not be used against neighbouring countries, arguing that militant activity and security incidents point to continuing threats.
Trump Administration Reportedly Plans to Deport Afghan Refugees to Pakistan
Pakistan Raises Wider Security Concerns
Pakistan maintains that the militant networks it faces involve more than cross-border movement, alleging that training, weapons supplies and operational support also contribute to attacks.
Pakistani security officials have claimed that up to 70% of militants identified as Fitna al-Khawarij who infiltrate Pakistan are of Afghan origin. Officials have also alleged that weapons left behind by US and NATO forces have reached militant groups, including Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
These claims form part of Islamabad’s broader argument that militant infrastructure inside Afghanistan is contributing to the deterioration of security in Pakistan.
According to figures cited by Pakistani authorities, attacks attributed to terrorism originating from Afghan territory killed 1,327 Pakistanis and injured another 2,484 during 2026.
Prospects for US Involvement
Rubio did not outline any specific initiative or commitment by Washington to address the dispute. His comments indicated, however, that the United States was prepared to consider a constructive role if it could help tackle the security concerns raised by Pakistan.
With Islamabad continuing to press Kabul for action against militant groups, any potential US involvement would come amid broader efforts to address regional security threats and ease tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
