Pakistan rejects Taliban claims of civilian deaths; UN figures differ

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday rejected as baseless and unsupported by evidence the Afghan Taliban government’s allegation that civilians were killed in its counterterrorism operations. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the operations were carried out in self-defence, on the principle of necessity and as a last resort. He said they targeted only terrorists and their supporting hideouts.

The statement said attacks planned and launched from Afghan soil caused more than 3,500 deaths and injuries in 2026 alone. According to Arab News Pakistan, the statement did not give separate figures for civilians and security personnel. The spokesperson said no responsible state could stay silent when its citizens and security forces were repeatedly targeted.

According to Kabul Now, the statement came in response to an interview given to CNN by Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi. He had said that more than 1,000 civilians were killed in Pakistani attacks over the past four years.

The Foreign Office alleged that the Taliban government was sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and like-minded groups. In official terminology, these are called Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan. The spokesperson cited relevant UN mechanisms, including reports of the Monitoring Team. The statement called on the international community to hold the Taliban government accountable for failing to meet its obligations under Security Council resolutions. Pakistan reserved the right to take all necessary steps to protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity and citizens.

Meanwhile, the UN mission UNAMA has recorded civilian harm in cross-border clashes and Pakistani air strikes. According to Kabul Now, at least 512 civilians were killed and 1,236 injured between October 2025 and September 2026. According to UNAMA, nine civilians were killed in attacks in Kunar on 21 and 29 September. In Helmand, four civilians, including three children, were killed in an attack on the night of 30 September and 1 October. According to Arab News, after the attacks in Kunar and Helmand on 1 October, the mission reported at least 10 civilian deaths. According to Pakistan, 22 militants were killed in them.

Kabul denies sheltering the TTP. The border crossings have been closed since the clashes in October 2025, affecting traders in both countries.