ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Information on Monday rejected Afghan media reports that the Pakistani army had carried out air or missile strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, calling the claims “false” and “frivolous.”
In a statement published on
The ministry rejected the allegations, saying they “constitute a blatant lie and an attempt to gain sympathy to cover up the Afghan Taliban’s support for Fitna al-Khawarij.” Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“Pakistan’s targeting is precise and intelligence-driven. No strike was carried out against Afghanistan’s Sayyed Jamaluddin University. The claims are frivolous and false,” the statement said.
The ministry further accused Afghan media of repeating a pattern of “fake news to conceal support for terrorist groups and proxies like Fitna al-Khawarij”, adding that such reports were often amplified by Indian media.
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“This indicates that the Afghan Taliban regime, having nothing to offer its citizens in terms of services, welfare and governance, relies solely on disinformation and hatred,” the statement said.
“The only thing they have learned from their Indian propaganda masters is lies and false flag operations. Such pathetic antics and vile accusations are absurd,” he adds.
The ministry clarified that under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, any future Pakistani strikes against militant infrastructure based in Afghanistan would be “well declared, fully owned and supported by specific evidence of targeting of terrorism support infrastructure”.
He added that such operations, wherever and whenever carried out, would follow established procedures and previous patterns of announced military action.
According to Reuters, the Taliban government said mortar and rocket attacks launched by Pakistan killed four people and injured 70 others, as fighting between the two countries resumed and threatened to derail fragile peace talks.
Around 30 students, women and children were among those reportedly injured in the attacks, which targeted homes and Afghanistan’s Syed Jamaluddin University in Asadabad, Kunar province, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said.
The worst fighting in years broke out between the allies-turned-enemies in February, with Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan that Islamabad said targeted terrorist strongholds.
Islamabad said Kabul provides a safe haven for terrorists who carry out attacks against Pakistan from its soil. The Taliban denied the allegations and said militancy in Pakistan was an internal problem.
China, which acts as a mediator between the two countries, said earlier this month that it had agreed during peace talks in Urumqi to explore a comprehensive solution to their conflict.
Last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced a “temporary pause” in the operation at the request of brotherly Islamic countries the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkey, in view of the Eidul Fitr holidays. However, the operation resumed after Eid.
