Pakistan has rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban government that its counter-terrorism operations caused civilian casualties, calling the allegations baseless. In a statement, the Foreign Office said Pakistan retains the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks launched from Afghan territory.
The Foreign Office said false information would neither hide the danger posed by militant networks operating from Afghanistan nor free the Taliban administration of its duty to stop Afghan soil being used to plan and launch attacks on Pakistan. It said these attacks had caused more than 3,500 casualties in 2026 alone.
Foreign Office cites UN reports on militant sheltering
Citing reports from relevant United Nations mechanisms, including the Monitoring Team, the ministry said the Taliban government had continued to host a large number of terrorist organisations without facing consequences. It named the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it also calls Fitna al Khawarij, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which it calls Fitna al Hindustan, along with their affiliates.
Also read: Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claims over militant threat
The statement said these groups remained a serious threat to peace and stability in the region and beyond. It added that thousands of Pakistani civilians had been killed in attacks it said were planned, financed and carried out from Afghan soil, under the watch and active facilitation of the Taliban government. “No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted,” it said.
Pakistan says its response was proportionate and restrained
The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s actions were taken in self-defence, in line with the principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort. It said these actions were aimed exclusively at terrorists and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan.
According to the statement, the response was proportionate to the level of threat and followed the principles of distinction and precaution. The scale of the action, it said, reflected restraint given the severity and frequency of attacks on the country. The Foreign Office rejected any suggestion to the contrary.
It urged the international community to hold the Taliban regime accountable for failing to meet its obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and other commitments. The statement said Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of its nationals.
Pakistan condemns Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia
Separately, Pakistan condemned Houthi ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Makkah and Madina regions, including areas near the holy sites. It reaffirmed its commitment to the kingdom’s security under the two countries’ defence cooperation agreements.
