DG ISPR rejects Afghan Taliban's allegations of airstrikes in Afghanistan

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Tuesday rejected the Afghan Taliban's allegations that Pakistan's security forces carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

The rebuttal came after an Afghan Taliban spokesperson alleged that Pakistan targeted areas in Khost, Kunar and Paktika.

According to media reports, the ISPR chief said that Pakistan did not conduct any strikes across the border. He was quoted as stating that the army “has not attacked civilians inside Afghanistan,” and that Pakistan publicly acknowledges any action it undertakes.

“Whenever Pakistan attacks someone, it announces it,” the reports quoted the DG ISPR as saying.

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He said that Pakistan makes no distinctions among militant groups, saying there are “no good or bad Taliban.” He urged the authorities in Kabul to take decisions “as a state” rather than behave like non-state actors, and questioned how long Afghanistan’s current administration would continue in an interim capacity.

Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have been increasingly tense, largely due to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan views as the central issue. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Afghan Taliban to prevent cross-border attacks, while Kabul rejects claims that militants are being allowed to operate from Afghan territory.