Pakistan Denies Afghan Strikes Targeted Civilians, Says Operations Focused on Terror Infrastructure

Pakistan Rejects Allegations Over Military Strikes in Afghanistan

On Monday, Pakistan strongly denied allegations made by India and Afghanistan regarding civilian casualties from recent military strikes in the country. The Pakistani Ambassador to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated that these operations targeted only terrorist and military support infrastructure used by the Taliban for cross-border attacks.

During a UN Security Council discussion on Afghanistan, Ahmad emphasized that the strikes hit drone storage facilities, technical support infrastructure, and ammunition depots. He described them as precise, deliberate, and professional, adding that no hospitals, drug rehabilitation centers, or civilian facilities were targeted.

India’s statement was delivered by Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, while Naseer Ahmad Faiq, an appointee of the former Afghan government, represented Afghanistan. Pakistan dismissed Faiq, stating he “does not represent anyone but himself.”

The Indian envoy highlighted New Delhi’s humanitarian and capacity-building work in Afghanistan and noted that Pakistani strikes were conducted during Ramazan. In response, Asim accused India of using development and humanitarian assistance as cover to destabilize Pakistan through terrorist proxies.

Asim emphasized the international community’s expectations for the Taliban regime, including inclusive governance, human rights, women’s and girls’ rights, and a commitment not to use Afghan soil for terrorism. He noted concerns over the Taliban’s non-compliance with these pledges during the Security Council discussion.

The envoy dismissed India’s “newfound love for the Taliban,” calling it a reaction to Pakistan’s successful counterterrorism operations against camps inside Afghanistan backed by New Delhi. Asim accused India of failing to condemn Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which have been targeting innocent Pakistanis.

India’s invocation of international law was deemed “laughable,” as he pointed out that it is a serial violator, committing grave human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. He accused India of persecuting minorities and controlling national media under the BJP government. Asim also highlighted India’s role as a state sponsor of terrorism, openly aiding and financing terrorism elsewhere.

The envoy concluded by stating that Pakistan was fully aware of India’s motives and designs and would not allow it to threaten its national security, vowing to stop any such attempts in the future.