Government rejects Afghan Taliban's 'frivolous' claim of Pakistan violating truce

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's information ministry on Friday rejected the Afghan Taliban's claim that Pakistan had violated the temporary pause in fighting, calling the allegation "frivolous."

In a post on X, the ministry stated:

"The claim of so-called Ministry of Defence/spokesperson of Taliban regime that Pakistan has violated the temporary pause — initiated itself by Pakistan in view of Eidul Fitr — is frivolous."

The ministry categorically denied that any breach of the temporary pause had occurred along the western border, terming all such assertions as entirely baseless.

"No violation of the temporary pause has taken place along the western border by Pakistan and all such claims are absolutely false."

Ministry hints at propaganda by 'detractors' within Taliban regime

The information ministry's statement, issued under its "fact check" label, went further to suggest that such claims may have been orchestrated by elements within the Taliban's own ranks.

"Such propaganda may probably be initiated by detractors within Taliban regime, aimed at creating false pretext for some Afghan Taliban regime-directed terrorism or other action."

The ministry emphasised that regardless of who was behind the propaganda and false claims, Pakistan had already made its position unequivocally clear. The statement stressed that any act of terrorism, cross-border attack, drone attack, or similar action by the Afghan Taliban regime and its proxies would be met with a firm response from Pakistan.

Background

The exchange of statements comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Pakistan had initiated a temporary pause in military operations in view of Eidul Fitr, a gesture that the information ministry underscored was taken unilaterally by Islamabad. The Afghan Taliban's defence ministry or spokesperson had claimed that Pakistan had violated this pause, a charge that Islamabad has now firmly denied.

The ministry's statement reflects Pakistan's continued stance of holding the Afghan Taliban regime responsible for any cross-border militant activity, while also signalling concerns about internal factions within the Taliban government that may seek to destabilise bilateral relations or create pretexts for further violence along the border.