Pakistan rejects Afghan claim of border post destruction

Pakistan has rejected a claim by Afghanistan’s defence ministry that a Pakistani military post was destroyed near the Spin Boldak border, calling the allegation “fake and fabricated”.

The Information Ministry said the latest clash took place in the Gulistan sector along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border during the night of September 24 and 25.

According to the ministry, Afghan forces attempted to carry out an attack in the area. Pakistani security forces foiled the attempt and responded with heavy fire against Taliban positions.

The ministry claimed that at least 13 Afghan Taliban personnel were killed and several others were injured during the confrontation. It also released visuals that it said showed the border engagement and the subsequent response by Pakistani forces.

The ministry rejected Afghan statements that its forces had suffered no casualties. It said the Afghan claim did not reflect the facts on the ground.

The latest confrontation comes amid growing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries have remained strained over cross-border attacks and allegations that militant groups are operating from Afghan territory.

On September 24, Pakistan carried out precision air and drone strikes at 10 locations inside Afghanistan. The strikes came a day after several drones launched from Afghanistan entered Pakistani airspace near Torkham and Kohat. Security sources said the drones were subsequently shot down.

Pakistani officials also said Afghan Taliban forces opened fire near Kurram shortly before the latest escalation. Security forces reportedly prevented an attempt by militants to cross into Pakistan.

Pakistan had also conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan on September 21 following a series of terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The government said more than 28 militants were killed in those strikes.

The action followed a major attack on the old Police Lines area in Kohat, where 23 people were killed and around 100 others were injured. Security forces later conducted an overnight operation and killed eight attackers.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has described Pakistan’s military response as part of the ongoing counterterrorism campaign, known as Operation Ghazab lil Haq.

The operation was launched after cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban forces on February 26. Pakistan said the operation targeted terrorist hideouts and militant infrastructure along the Afghan border.

Pakistan also carried out strikes in Afghanistan in June following a series of terrorist attacks, including an attack on a Rangers camp in Karachi. At the time, Pakistani officials said 25 militants were killed in strikes in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar.

Similar strikes were conducted earlier in June, with Pakistan saying 26 militants were killed.

Cross-border tensions continued into July. Pakistani security sources reported responding to firing from Afghan positions in Kurram. Afghan Taliban authorities also launched several small drones towards Balochistan, which Pakistani security forces said were intercepted.

Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Taliban government in Kabul to take action against militant groups operating from Afghan territory. Islamabad has particularly raised concerns over the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan accuses of carrying out attacks inside the country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar recently raised the issue at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He called for concrete and verifiable measures to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorism against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.

Dar said Pakistan remained concerned about the presence of more than two dozen militant groups in Afghanistan and their potential impact on regional and international security.

Pakistan also told the United Nations Security Council that it would respond to terrorist threats originating from Afghanistan when necessary, while maintaining that any response would be taken in self-defence and in accordance with international law.

The Foreign Office has said that meaningful improvement in relations with Kabul will depend on concrete and verifiable action against the TTP and other militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

A recent UN Security Council-mandated monitoring report also highlighted concerns about the TTP’s activities from Afghanistan. The report said continued support for the group had contributed to an increase in the frequency and severity of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, while noting that Kabul had taken some initial measures against the organisation.