Islamabad: Ataullah Tarar, Pakistan’s information minister, has said that the country’s ongoing military operation inside Afghanistan is aimed solely at militant infrastructure and not civilian areas.
According to a statement issued on Monday, Tarar said Pakistani strikes were based on “accurate intelligence” and targeted militant hideouts and support networks operating from Afghan territory.
The clarification comes after the authorities in Afghanistan and the United Nations mission in Kabul accused Pakistan of hitting civilian areas during the ongoing operation named “Ghazab Lil Haq” (Wrath for Truth).
Border clashes between the two countries began on February 26 after Afghan forces allegedly attacked Pakistani military positions along the frontier. The attack was described as retaliation for earlier airstrikes by Pakistan on what it said were militant camps inside Afghanistan.
Tarar rejected reports that civilians had been killed in the strikes and said the UN figures relied heavily on information provided by the Afghan authorities.
The UN human rights chief had earlier stated that 56 Afghan civilians, including many children, had been killed since the fighting began. However, Pakistani officials dismissed the claims and termed them unverified.
The minister also rejected statements by the Afghan defence ministry claiming battlefield successes against Pakistani forces. He said Pakistani strikes had killed 583 fighters belonging to the Afghan Taliban, though the figures could not be independently verified.
Pakistan has long accused Kabul of sheltering militant groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and allowing them to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan authorities deny the allegations and maintain that Pakistan’s security issues are internal matters.
While Afghanistan has called for dialogue to ease tensions, Pakistan says the military operation will continue until its objectives are achieved.
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