Islamabad Reports Deployment of Thousands of Uzbek Opposition Fighters in Afghanistan.
Islamabad has reported the presence of thousands of Uzbek opposition fighters inside Afghanistan.
Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, stated that more than 2,500 armed opponents of the Government of Uzbekistan are currently based on Afghan soil.
Speaking on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, during a meeting with Ismat Irgashev, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative, Mr. Sadiq said that these individuals constitute the second-largest foreign armed group in Afghanistan after Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to him, both sides discussed the presence of armed groups and the threats arising from their activities in Afghanistan, expressing concern over the security implications for regional countries. The Pakistani envoy emphasized that thousands of fighters affiliated with various groups remain active across Afghanistan.
Regional reports indicate that armed opponents of the Uzbek government operate in Afghanistan with the full support of the Taliban and are said to receive backing from senior security officials within the group, including the Taliban’s Minister of Interior.
The issue comes amid differing assessments between Islamabad and the Taliban regarding the management of Afghanistan’s security threats.
This marks the first time a senior Pakistani official has publicly disclosed the estimated number of armed Uzbek opposition members present in Afghanistan.
His remarks follow Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in the provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost operations that have further heightened security tensions in the region.
