The Taliban's defence ministry has rebuffed Pakistan's claims that Afghans were involved in an attack which killed Chinese engineers.
The Pakistani allegations came as relations between the neighbouring countries deteriorate amidst escalating insecurity.
Pakistan's military asserted during a press conference on Tuesday that a suicide bombing in March in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which resulted in the deaths of five Chinese engineers, was orchestrated from neighbouring Afghanistan, and the perpetrator was identified as an Afghan national.
"Afghans are not involved in such matters,” Mufti Enayatullah Khorazmim, spokesperson for Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence, stated on Wednesday.
"Blaming Afghanistan for such incidents is a failed attempt to divert attention from the truth of the matter and we strongly reject it,” Khorazmim added.
The suicide bombing occurred when a vehicle rammed into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a dam project in northwest Pakistan, resulting in six casualties.
"The killing of Chinese citizens in an area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that is under tight security cover by the Pakistan Army shows the weakness of the Pakistani security agencies," Khorazmim retorted.
Pakistan's military spokesman stressed on Tuesday that the security of 29,000 Chinese nationals in Pakistan, many of whom are engaged in infrastructure projects, is a top priority for security institutions.
Pakistani Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major-General Ahmed Sharif said there was compelling evidence indicating that TTP** terrorists are utilizing Afghan territory as a base to launch attacks in Pakistan.
The TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization, is responsible for orchestrating assaults against Pakistani security forces.
The Taliban are also keen on fostering economic ties with China. China was the first country to formally appoint an ambassador to Kabul under the Taliban government. The Taliban has also expressed interest in participating in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment by Beijing in development and infrastructure.
* under UN sanctions
** banned terrorist group
** banned terrorist group