Pakistan slams Afghan Taliban over ‘fabricated lies’

Pakistan on Wednesday rejected what it described as the Afghan Taliban’s latest attempt to spread false information about the recent border clashes in South Waziristan, accusing the regime of misleading the Afghan public and concealing the facts surrounding the incident.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the Afghan Taliban’s statements about the Angoor Adda incident reflected what it called the regime’s deceptive conduct. It maintained that the claims had no credibility and were part of a broader pattern of misleading statements.

According to the ministry, Afghan Taliban forces initiated unprovoked firing and mortar shelling on civilians on the Pakistani side of the border. It also alleged that the actions followed a pattern encouraged by India.

The exchange followed an incident on Tuesday night in Angoor Adda, South Waziristan, where shelling reportedly struck civilian areas, killing one member of a family and injuring five others.

In response, Pakistan Army troops targeted Afghan Taliban check posts along the border. The information ministry said the military’s response destroyed seven posts and inflicted casualties and material losses on the opposing side.

The ministry described the military action as a swift and decisive response to the attack, adding that Pakistan would not tolerate assaults on its civilians or violations of its territorial integrity.

Separately, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the incident and warned the Afghan Taliban against further hostile actions towards Pakistan.

In a statement, Kundi said Pakistan would respond firmly to any attack on its people or infringement of its sovereignty. He praised the armed forces for their prompt response and said the country remained united in defending its territory.

The governor highlighted Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, noting that thousands of lives had been lost in efforts to restore peace and security. He stressed that no hostile action would weaken Pakistan’s determination to protect its citizens.

Kundi also reaffirmed that the armed forces had the full support of the nation in defending the country’s borders. He warned that any further aggression would be met with a determined response.

The latest exchange comes amid persistent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over cross-border militancy.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban administration of allowing militant groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to operate from Afghan territory and carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul has rejected the allegations and maintained that militancy within Pakistan is an internal matter.

Relations deteriorated further following renewed border clashes and Pakistani air strikes against what Islamabad described as terrorist positions in Afghanistan. The escalation led to the launch of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq around the end of February.

The two sides subsequently agreed to a week-long ceasefire on March 18, ahead of Eidul Fitr, following diplomatic efforts by Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

However, disagreements over security arrangements and militant activity have continued to undermine efforts to ease tensions.

During peace talks in Urumqi, China, in April, Pakistan presented three key demands to the Afghan Taliban administration. These included formally declaring the TTP a terrorist organisation, dismantling its infrastructure and providing verifiable evidence that action had been taken against the group.