FO says cross-border attacks, infiltrations continue from Afghanistan despite Pakistan’s ceasefire gesture
A Pakistani army soldier stands guard at a border terminal in Ghulam Khan, a town in North Waziristan on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Photo: AFP
The Foreign Office responded to media questions regarding a social media post from the UK’s special representative for Afghanistan, calling the “one-sided remarks” “devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation along the border”.
In a statement on Saturday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said: “We have seen the social media post from the UK SRA regarding developments along the Pakistan-Afghan border.
He added: “Cross-border aggression and terrorist infiltration attempts from the Afghan side continued unabated despite Pakistan’s goodwill gesture of a temporary pause, announced in March 2026.”
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Spokesperson’s statement
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Zwsoeh3MiM— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 2, 2026
Since this pause, the spokesperson said, “indiscriminate and unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, as well as terrorist activities of Indian proxies supported by the Afghan Taliban inside Pakistan, have resulted in shahadat.” [martyrdom] 52 civilians and 84 injured.
Pakistan, while exercising restraint, responded effectively by “precisely targeting Afghan Taliban posts and terrorism support infrastructure,” the statement said. At the same time, Pakistan continues to thwart “multiple infiltration attempts from the Afghan side”.
According to the statement, Afghan claims of civilian casualties due to Pakistan’s responses lack credibility. “Such unwarranted remarks, without linking them to the root causes of terrorism, do not offer a balanced and objective perspective,” he said.
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The spokesperson called for a better understanding of regional dynamics, as well as Pakistan’s principled stance and the “unprecedented sacrifices made by the Pakistani people in the fight against terrorism.”
The remarks come as the UK’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, spoke to X to express concern over violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
He cited reported strikes in Kunar in Afghanistan and said measures must be taken to protect civilian lives and prevent further escalation. Lindsay said this in response to an article regarding reported civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
The British envoy also visited Afghanistan this week, saying he had called for dialogue and restraint during meetings there.
Learn more: Afghan linked to 2021 Kabul airport attack sentenced
Pakistani security forces on Friday killed 13 terrorists while foiling two separate infiltration attempts along the Pakistan-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The same day, local authorities said at least nine civilians died and 12 others were injured in cross-border firing and shelling carried out by Afghan forces over the past two months in KP’s Bajaur district.
A day earlier, at least five people were injured after the Afghan Taliban again shelled and targeted Pakistani civilian populations in border areas adjacent to Angoor Adda in South Waziristan district of KP, security sources said.
