ISLAMABAD:
The Information Ministry on Monday rejected Afghan media reports that the Pakistan Army carried out missile or airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar province, calling the claims “false” and “nonsense”.
In a statement published on X, the ministry’s fact-check account shared an image from Afghan news outlet TOLOnews claiming Pakistan “conducted missile/jet attacks on Kunar province on April 27, targeting Sayyed Jamaluddin Afghani University and residential areas, killing 3 people and injuring 45”.
The ministry rejected the allegations, saying the claim “is a blatant lie and an attempt to garner sympathy to cover up support by the Afghan Taliban for Fitna al-Khawarij”. Fitna al-Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“Pakistan’s targeting is precise and intelligence-based. No strike has been carried out at Sayyed Jamaluddin Afghani University. The allegations are frivolous and false,” the statement said.
The ministry further accused Afghan media of repeating a pattern of “fake news to cover up support for terrorist groups and proxies like Fitna al-Khawarij,” adding that such reports were often amplified by Indian media.
In another post on X, the ministry criticized what it called “continuous propaganda” surrounding fake strikes in Kunar, accusing Afghan media and officials of being backed by “Indian propagandists.”
“It indicates that the Afghan Taliban regime, which has nothing to offer its citizens in terms of service, welfare and governance, relies only on misinformation and hatred,” the statement said.
“All they have learned from their Indian propaganda masters is lies and false flag operations. Such pathetic antics and vile accusations are absurd,” it added.
The ministry clarified that under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, any future Pakistani attack on Afghan-based militant infrastructure would be “well-declared, fully owned and supported by precise evidence of targeted terrorist support infrastructure”.
It added that such operations, whenever and wherever conducted, would follow established procedures and past patterns of announced military action.
According to Reuters, the Taliban government claimed mortar and rocket attacks launched by Pakistan killed four people and wounded 70 others as fighting between the two countries flared again and threatened to derail fragile peace talks.
About 30 students, women and children were among those reportedly injured in the attacks, which targeted homes and Syed Jamaluddin Afghani University in Kunar province’s Asadabad, Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat claimed.
The worst fighting in years erupted between the allies-turned-foes in February, with Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said were targeting terrorist strongholds.
Islamabad has said that Kabul provides a haven for terrorists who carry out attacks on Pakistan from its soil. The Taliban have denied the allegations, saying militancy in Pakistan is an internal problem.
China, which mediated between the two countries, said earlier this month that during peace talks in Urumqi it had agreed 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 the Islamic brotherhood countries of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye in light of the Eidul Fitr holidays. However, the operation resumed after Eid.
