Pakistan justifies strikes on Afghanistan as self-defence
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Voanews
The Pakistani government presents its strikes against Afghanistan as self-defence and denies killing civilians. Islamabad says it is targeting terrorist groups and their logistical networks, while the United Nations has recorded more than 1,100 civilians killed or injured in cross-border attacks in 2026.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry defended strikes carried out in Afghanistan, presenting them as acts of self-defence directed against “terrorists” and their logistical supporters. In a statement published on social media platform X on Monday, it also rejected accusations of civilian deaths attributed to the operations, Voice of America reports.
The tensions pit Pakistani forces against the Afghan Taliban, who described the Pakistani strikes as aggression. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of sheltering Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an armed group responsible for attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban deny hosting militant groups, but a UN report published in August says they continue to support the TTP.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said in September that it had recorded more than 1,100 civilians killed or injured in Afghanistan by cross-border attacks since the beginning of 2026. Pakistan says attacks carried out on its territory have caused more than 3,500 casualties this year.
Trade and negotiations between the two countries have come to a standstill, according to Ismail Khan, an editor at the Pakistani daily Dawn, quoted by Voice of America. He said China, Turkey and Qatar had tried to promote a resumption of talks, without success, and judged that neither side was ready to negotiate.
