Pakistan rejects ‘baseless’ civilian casualty claims by Afghan Taliban

Pakistan on Monday rejected what it called “baseless and unsubstantiated allegations regarding civilian casualties attributed to its counter-terrorism operations”, reaffirming its right to take necessary measures to defend its sovereignty and protect its citizens against terrorism originating from Afghan soil.

Last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that Pakistan had carried out “precision” aerial and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan after drones launched from Afghan territory entered Pakistani airspace, describing the strikes as a response to a “deliberate and unlawful incursion”.

The development came amid fighting ​between Pakistan and Afghanistan that started in October 2025. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring ⁠militants ​who launch attacks in Pakistan, ​although Kabul denies this, calling the militancy its neighbour’s domestic problem.

In a statement posted on X, the Foreign Office (FO) said disinformation and misleading narratives would neither obscure the threat posed by terrorist networks operating from Afghanistan nor absolve the Afghan Taliban regime of its responsibility to prevent Afghan territory from being used to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan. It added that such attacks had resulted in more than 3,500 casualties in 2026 alone.

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The FO called on the international community to “hold the Taliban regime accountable for its failure to uphold its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and other related commitments to prevent Afghan soil from being used as a launchpad for terrorism”.

It also reiterated Pakistan’s right to “take all necessary measures in order to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety and security of Pakistani nationals”.

Citing reports by relevant UN mechanisms, including the Monitoring Team, the FO said the Taliban regime continued to shelter a large number of terrorist organisations with impunity, a situation it described as a serious concern for the international community.

These organisations included the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Fitna al-Khawarij, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Fitna al-Hindustan, along with their affiliates, the statement said. It added that the groups continued to pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and stability.

The FO further said thousands of Pakistanis had been martyred in terrorist attacks planned, financed, supported and carried out from Afghan soil, with the alleged involvement and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban regime. “No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted,” the statement said.

It added that Islamabad’s actions in response to such attacks were undertaken in exercise of its right to self-defence, in accordance with the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort. The FO maintained that the actions had been directed “only and exclusively against terrorists and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan”.

It also said Pakistan’s response had been proportionate to the level of threat and had strictly adhered to the principles of distinction and precaution. It added that the scale and scope of the action reflected restraint, particularly given the severity and frequency of terrorist attacks faced by the country. “Pakistan rejects any insinuations otherwise,” the statement said.

Amid continued tensions between the neighbours, Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was launched around the end of February following renewed clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation by Pakistan.

The clashes intensified after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes targeting terrorist positions. The two sides had agreed to a week-long ceasefire on the eve of Eidul Fitr on March 18, following requests from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Pakistan in April put forth three core demands to the Afghan Taliban during peace talks in Urumqi, China, including Kabul formally declaring the TTP a terrorist organisation, dismantling its infrastructure, and providing verifiable proof of the action. These demands form the basis of Pakistan’s negotiating position, which sources say has hardened amid persistent security concerns.