By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Monday rejected allegations by Afghanistan’s Taliban regime that its counterterrorism operations caused civilian casualties, defending its actions as necessary measures against militant groups it accuses of operating from Afghan territory.

In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said attacks originating from Afghanistan had caused more than 3,500 casualties in Pakistan in 2026 alone. It did not provide a breakdown of the figure or distinguish between civilian and security personnel casualties.

Islamabad accused the Taliban authorities of allowing terrorist organisations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), to operate from Afghan soil. Pakistan refers to the groups and their affiliates using the terms “Fitna al Khawarij” and “Fitna al Hindustan”, respectively.

The ministry said reports by United Nations monitoring mechanisms had repeatedly raised concerns about militant organisations operating in Afghanistan. It urged the international community to hold the Taliban authorities accountable for preventing Afghan territory from being used to plan and launch attacks against other countries.

Pakistan also said thousands of its civilians had been killed in attacks that it alleged were planned, financed or carried out from Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban authorities of failing to prevent such activities.

Defending its cross-border actions, Islamabad said it had exercised its right to self-defence and that operations were directed exclusively at militants and their logistical support bases in Afghanistan.

The ministry said Pakistan’s response was proportionate to the security threat and had been conducted in accordance with the principles of necessity, distinction and precaution. It described military action as a last resort after repeated attacks on Pakistani civilians and security forces.

“Any responsible state cannot remain passive when its civilians and security forces are repeatedly targeted,” the statement said.

Pakistan called on the international community to press the Taliban authorities to meet their obligations under relevant UN Security Council resolutions and other international commitments concerning counterterrorism.

The ministry added that Pakistan reserved the right to take further measures to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizens.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated amid repeated Pakistani accusations that the TTP uses Afghan territory to launch attacks across the border. The Taliban authorities have rejected accusations that Afghanistan is being used by militant groups to threaten other countries, while disputes over cross-border security have fuelled tensions between the neighbouring states.