ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan on Wednesday strongly rejected India’s criticism of its recent counterterrorism operations targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan, describing New Delhi’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated. The Foreign Office maintained that Pakistan’s actions were lawful, carefully targeted and carried out solely to eliminate terrorist threats posing risks to the country’s security.
Responding to remarks issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had acted within the framework of international law and exercised its legitimate right to defend its citizens against cross-border terrorism.
The spokesperson stated that Pakistan’s operations were aimed only at terrorist infrastructure responsible for planning and facilitating attacks inside Pakistani territory. He emphasized that every action was based on credible intelligence and undertaken with restraint to minimize any unintended consequences.
Pakistan also accused India of attempting to divert international attention from its own regional policies by making unfounded allegations. According to the Foreign Office, India has a history of interfering in the internal affairs of neighboring countries while repeatedly violating international principles concerning sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The statement further reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi continues to deny the Kashmiri people their internationally recognized right to self-determination under United Nations resolutions.
Addressing regional security concerns, Tahir Andrabi alleged that India has continued supporting anti-Pakistan militant networks operating from Afghan territory. He said such activities violate international obligations and undermine efforts to establish lasting peace and stability in South Asia.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan remains committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and will continue taking necessary measures to safeguard its borders and citizens. He stressed that the country’s security operations are directed solely against terrorist organizations and are not aimed at harming civilians or escalating regional tensions.
The latest diplomatic exchange comes amid heightened security concerns along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where militant activity has increased in recent weeks.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s military announced that security forces had intercepted and destroyed four drones allegedly launched from across the Afghan border into Balochistan. According to military officials, the drones were neutralized before reaching their intended targets, preventing potential damage.
The military described the incident as another attempt to destabilize Pakistan’s western border and warned that such actions would not weaken the country’s resolve to defend its territorial integrity.
Security officials also pointed to recent intelligence-based operations conducted along border regions, during which dozens of suspected militants were reportedly killed. Authorities said these operations targeted terrorist camps, weapons depots and logistical facilities used to organize attacks inside Pakistan.
The recent security campaign followed a deadly attack on a Pakistan Rangers installation in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar area. During that assault, three Rangers personnel embraced martyrdom while several others sustained injuries. Security forces killed three attackers during the encounter and arrested another suspect who was identified as an Afghan national.
Pakistani officials maintain that evidence gathered after the Karachi attack established links between the attackers and militant networks operating from across the border. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
The government has also lodged diplomatic protests with Afghan authorities, urging them to prevent militant groups from using Afghan territory against Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly called for stronger cooperation to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries and improve border security.
Officials say Pakistan remains committed to maintaining peaceful relations with all neighboring countries but will continue responding firmly to threats against its national security. They stressed that counterterrorism operations are intended to dismantle militant networks and ensure lasting stability for the region.
Diplomatic observers believe the latest exchange between Islamabad and New Delhi reflects continuing regional tensions over security issues, with both countries presenting sharply different narratives regarding developments along Pakistan’s western frontier. Pakistan has reaffirmed that protecting its citizens from terrorism will remain a national priority while continuing diplomatic engagement with regional partners.
