Pakistan has rejected allegations that its counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan have killed civilians, describing claims by the Afghan Taliban authorities as false and misleading.
Speaking at a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said such allegations could not obscure the threat posed by militant networks operating from Afghan territory.
He said Pakistan had lost approximately 3,500 lives to terrorism originating from Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban authorities of providing shelter to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant organisations.
Khan said Pakistan could not remain silent while its citizens and security personnel continued to face attacks.
Pakistan says operations target militant facilities
The Foreign Office spokesperson maintained that Pakistan’s operations in Afghanistan were directed exclusively at militants and their facilities.
He called on the international community to ensure that Afghan territory was not used to launch attacks against other countries.
Khan also said Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary measures to defend itself against security threats.
Cross-border militancy remains a point of tension
Allegations over civilian casualties and the presence of militant groups have remained contentious issues in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of allowing anti-Pakistan militants to operate from Afghan territory. The Taliban authorities have rejected accusations that Afghanistan is being used to threaten neighbouring countries.
