Pakistan’s military spokesperson has leveled serious allegations against the Afghan Taliban regime, accusing it of sheltering militants within official state buildings and utilizing Indian-supplied drones for cross-border operations.
State Infrastructure Used for Militant Shelter
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated that the Afghan Taliban regime has hidden terrorists inside government buildings. He made these remarks during an appearance on Geo News’ programme Capital Talk, asserting that Pakistan is fighting a “war against terrorism imposed on us.”
The ISPR chief further claimed the regime maintains links with terrorist organizations, including contact with Hamza, a son of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. “They are in contact with his son Hamza and have asked him to come to Afghanistan,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.
Strikes Target Ammunition and Drone Depot
The military spokesperson categorically rejected the Afghan regime’s claims of civilian casualties from recent Pakistani airstrikes. He stated that the operation in Kabul specifically targeted an ammunition site and a drone storage facility, based on verified intelligence.
“Our intelligence was accurate; we targeted an ammunition site in Kabul,” he said, noting the site contained missiles and drones. “When the ammunition exploded, flames continued burning for a long time.” Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that recorded evidence supports Pakistan’s version of events.
Allegations of Indian-Supplied Drones
In a significant revelation, the ISPR chief accused the Afghan regime of using Indian drones against Pakistan. “All drones coming from Afghanistan have been shot down,” he stated, questioning the origin of such technology. “There is no drone manufacturing facility in Afghanistan, so which country is providing them?”
He directly linked recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan to cross-border infiltration, citing a mosque blast in Tarlai and an attack on Wana Cadet College where the perpetrators were allegedly Afghan nationals.
Call for Clear Choice and Dialogue
The military spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s openness to dialogue while expressing skepticism about commitments from the Afghan side. “Pakistan has never refused talks; we have engaged them [Taliban] at multiple forums, but who can guarantee their commitments?” he questioned.
Lt Gen Chaudhry reported ongoing domestic counterterrorism efforts, with “more than 200 operations being conducted daily against terrorism in Pakistan,” noting a decline in cross-border militant activity and smuggling.
He concluded with a direct appeal to the Afghan Taliban regime: “They must decide whether terrorism or peace is more important, and whether TTP is more important to them or Pakistan.”
