Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has rubbished the Afghan regime’s claims about civilian casualties in recent Pakistani strikes, saying that the Kabul attack was aimed at targeting ammunition and a drone depot.
Speaking on Geo News programme Capital Talk, the military spokesperson said that Pakistan targeted an ammunition site and a drone storage facility in Kabul based on verified intelligence.
“Our intelligence was accurate; we targeted an ammunition site in Kabul,” the ISPR DG said, adding that the site contained “missiles and drones.”
“When the ammunition exploded, flames continued burning for a long time, which were seen by people in Kabul,” he said.
The military spokesperson maintained that evidence was available to support the claim. “We have records and footage confirming that we targeted the ammunition site,” he said.
The ISPR chief reiterated that Pakistan’s actions were based on credible intelligence and supported by recorded evidence.
He revealed that Indian drones were used by the Afghan regime against Pakistan recently.
The ISPR chief said that the Afghan Taliban regime is sheltering militants in state infrastructure, saying that Pakistan was fighting a war against terrorism imposed on it.
"The Afghan Taliban regime has hidden terrorists in government buildings," he said.
The ISPR chief said that the Afghan Taliban regime has maintained links with terrorist groups, including a son of Osama bin Laden.
“The Afghan Taliban regime is a terrorist organisation that has taken control of the country, and this is what the United Nations is also saying. They are in contact with his [Osama bin Laden] son Hamza and have asked him to come to Afghanistan.”
Osama bin Laden was killed in a US raid in Abbottabad on May 2 by Navy SEALs. The US accused the al-Qaeda chief of perpetrating 9/11 attacks on New York that killed over 3000 people in 2001.
The DG ISPR went on to say that Pakistan was fighting a war against terrorism imposed on it. “Pakistan is fighting a war against terrorism, and this war has been imposed on us by terrorists and their handlers,” he said, adding that militant groups were India-sponsored and funded.
Referring to recent terrorist incidents in Pakistan, the military spokesperson said: “A blast took place in a mosque in Tarlai, where worshippers and innocent children were martyred. The attacker came from Afghanistan.” He added that five militants killed in an attack on Wana Cadet College were Afghan nationals.
He emphasised that Pakistan’s actions were directed against militants, not civilians. “We did not target Afghans; we targeted terrorists,” he said, adding that 81 strikes have been carried out against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson said the Taliban regime was spreading misinformation. “They make false claims and later delete posts,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.
“Many suicide attackers are addicts or under the influence of drugs,” he said, adding that such practices had been observed in past incidents.
He further said: “All drones coming from Afghanistan have been shot down,” while questioning the source of such capabilities. “There is no drone manufacturing facility in Afghanistan, so which country is providing them?” he asked.
He reiterated that Pakistan remained open to dialogue but questioned guarantees from the Afghan side. "Pakistan has never refused talks; we have engaged them [Taliban] at multiple forums, but who can guarantee their commitments?” he said.
The spokesperson added that counterterrorism efforts were ongoing domestically as well. “More than 200 operations are being conducted daily against terrorism in Pakistan,” he said, noting that cross-border smuggling and militant activity had seen a decline.
He concluded by urging the Afghan Taliban regime to make a clear choice. “They must decide whether terrorism or peace is more important, and whether TTP is more important to them or Pakistan,” he said.
