ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly responded to recent remarks made by the British Special Representative for Afghanistan, describing the comments as one-sided and lacking a proper understanding of the complex situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
In a statement issued by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, Islamabad said it had taken note of a social media post by the British envoy regarding developments in the border region, but maintained that the observations “do not reflect ground realities” and fail to capture the wider security context.
The Foreign Office stressed that cross-border aggression and infiltration attempts from Afghan territory have continued despite what Pakistan described as a goodwill gesture in March 2026, when it announced a temporary pause in operations. According to the statement, these incidents have not subsided and instead have involved repeated attacks attributed to Afghan Taliban elements and alleged India-linked proxy networks operating from Afghan soil.
Islamabad stated that since the March pause, such incidents have resulted in the killing of 52 civilians and injuries to 84 others inside Pakistan. It further maintained that these attacks included unprovoked firing and coordinated militant activity across the border.
Pakistan said its response has remained restrained but targeted, focusing on Afghan Taliban positions and militant infrastructure. The Foreign Office added that multiple infiltration attempts had been effectively foiled, while precision operations were conducted against identified support networks linked to cross-border militancy.
Officials maintained that Pakistan’s actions were defensive in nature and aimed at preventing further incursions rather than escalating tensions in the region.
Responding to Afghan assertions regarding civilian casualties caused by Pakistani actions, the Foreign Office dismissed such claims as “lacking evidential credibility”. It reiterated that allegations had not been supported by verifiable data and were being circulated without independent confirmation.
The statement also cautioned against interpretations that, in Pakistan’s view, ignore the root causes of regional instability, particularly the issue of militancy emanating from across the border.
Pakistan urged the international community to assess the situation through what it described as an objective lens, taking into account the country’s longstanding role in counter-terrorism efforts and the “unparalleled sacrifices” made by its population.
The Foreign Office further emphasised the need for a balanced understanding of regional dynamics, stating that isolated remarks risk undermining efforts to build a clearer picture of security challenges along the border region.