Civilian casualties: FO rejects baseless Afghan Taliban allegations

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has categorically rejected what it termed baseless Afghan Taliban allegations of civilian casualties during its counter terror operations, accusing the regime of sheltering terrorist outfits operating from Afghan soil. These attacks have resulted in more than 3500 casualties in Pakistan in 2026 alone, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said in a statement issued here on Monday.

“We reject the baseless and unsubstantiated allegations regarding civilian casualties attributed to its counter-terrorism operations.”

Pakistan reserves the right to take all necessary measures in order to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety and security of Pakistani nationals.

He added that disinformation and misleading narratives will neither obscure the threat posed by the terrorist networks operating from Afghan territory nor absolve the Afghan Taliban regime of its responsibility to prevent Afghan soil from being used to plan and launch attacks against Pakistan.

The FO Spokesperson remarked, “As has been regularly reportedly by the relevant UN mechanisms, including the Monitoring Team, and which has been a cause of serious concern for the international community, the Taliban regime continues to shelter a large number of terrorist organizations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)/ Fitna al Khawarij, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)/ Fitna al Hindustan, and their affiliates with impunity, which continue to pose a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region and beyond.”

Thousands of Pakistani civilians have been martyred because of terrorist attacks which have been planned, financed, supported and carried out from Afghan soil, all under the watch, patronage and active facilitation of the Afghan Taliban regime, he highlighted.

“No responsible state can remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted.”

Sajjad Haider emphasised that any actions by Pakistan in response to such terrorist attacks have been undertaken in exercise of its right to self-defense, under principles of necessity and as a measure of last resort, and directed only and exclusively against terrorists and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s response was proportionate to the level of threat, while strictly adhering to the principle of distinction and precaution.

The scale and scope of the action reflected restraint, particularly in light of the severity and frequency of terrorist attacks faced by Pakistan. Pakistan rejects any insinuations otherwise.

Pakistan urges 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.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026