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Pakistan Rejects India’s Criticism Over Strikes on Terrorist Targets in Afghanistan
Pakistan dismisses India’s “baseless” claims over Kabul airstrikes. FO: strikes hit Taliban ammo depot, no civilian facilities targeted.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-18
Pakistan Rejects India’s Criticism Over Strikes on Terrorist Targets in Afghanistan

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday strongly rejected the statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemning Pakistan’s airstrikes on terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan, calling it “baseless, misleading, and unwarranted.”

The airstrikes, conducted under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, targeted Taliban positions in Kabul and Nangarhar, including an ammunition depot at the site known as Camp Phoenix — a former US military base currently used by Taliban forces. Afghan officials, however, claimed that a drug rehabilitation center, ‘Omid Camp’, was struck, alleging hundreds of casualties.

FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi criticised India’s condemnation, calling it “blatant hypocrisy and duplicity” in light of India’s historical role in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan from Afghan soil. He also referenced India’s domestic and foreign human rights record, including alleged repression of Muslims and support for Israel in Palestine.

“Only a few weeks ago, India pledged full support to another occupying power responsible for the ongoing killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians,” Andrabi said. “It is preposterous for a state that has historically undermined the sovereignty of its neighbours to comment on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures.”

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar clarified that the airstrikes were “precise, deliberate, and professional,” with video footage released by the ministry confirming that only terrorist infrastructure was targeted. He emphasised that no hospitals, rehabilitation centers, or civilian facilities were hit, with secondary explosions at the ammunition depot providing further evidence of the intended target.

International reactions followed the incident, with the UN calling for an independent investigation, the EU urging both sides to exercise restraint, and China asking Pakistan and Afghanistan to implement a ceasefire and resolve differences through dialogue.

The FO also called on India to stop supporting terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory, including those listed under UN Security Council sanctions, and to refrain from misrepresenting Pakistan’s ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

Pakistan maintains that the strikes are part of its broader strategy to dismantle infrastructure facilitating attacks on its soil and reiterated its commitment to targeting only legitimate military threats.
Tagged:

Pakistan

Afghanistan

CounterTerrorism

OperationGhazabLilHaq
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