Pakistan’s Foreign Office defends airstrikes in Afghanistan, reiterates respect for sovereignty

After airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Barmal district of Paktika province killed 46 and injured six, Pakistan defended its counter-terrorism operations and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding citizens from threats such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to The Express Tribune.

The spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office also reiterated country’s respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, emphasizing that operations are based on intelligence and prioritize civilian safety.

In a weekly news briefing on Thursday, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Foreign Office spokesperson stated, “Pakistan is committed to the security of its people. Our security and law-enforcement personnel conduct operations in the border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terror groups, including TTP. These operations are carefully selected and are based on authentic and concrete intelligence. We respect the sovereignty of Afghanistan,” as per The Express Tribune report.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch further added, “I would like to again underline that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations are carefully selected and are based on authentic and concrete intelligence, and protection of civilians is always a key consideration in any such decision. As I said earlier, Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan. We believe that Afghanistan should be able to reclaim its sovereignty and security, and the terror groups that threaten the security of Afghanistan and Pakistan need to be combated by both countries.”

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Foreign Office spokesperson urged both countries to work together to combat terrorism, adding that “Pakistan believes in diplomacy and dialogue.”

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated, “Pakistan has been engaged with Afghanistan over the last few days, and our special envoy on Afghanistan, discussed all matters relating to the terror groups, which have found sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. These matters have been discussed, and we will continue to engage with Afghanistan to resolve any issues that arise. I would like to underline that Pakistan believes in dialogue and diplomacy. We have always prioritised diplomacy in relations with Afghanistan, and we believe that it is critical for both countries to work together to combat this terrorist threat, that is a threat not just for Pakistan, but also for Afghanistan.”

After the airstrikes in Paktika, the Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul on Wednesday .

Hafiz Zia Ahmad, spokesperson of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) wrote in a post on X on Wednesday, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Pakistan in Kabul to deliver a strong protest note regarding the airstrikes conducted by Pakistani military jet in the Barmal district of Paktika province near the theoretical Durand Line.”