ISLAMABAD (MNN); Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Tuesday dismissed accusations by the Afghan Taliban that Pakistan had carried out overnight strikes inside Afghanistan, according to state media.
The Afghan Taliban had earlier claimed that Pakistan launched attacks in Khost, Kunar and Paktika provinces.
However, Pakistan’s military spokesperson firmly rejected the allegations, saying the Pakistan Army had not targeted civilians inside Afghan territory. “Whenever Pakistan takes action, it announces it,” he was quoted as saying by local outlets.
Gen Chaudhry added that Pakistan does not differentiate between militant groups. “In our view, there are no good or bad Taliban,” he said, urging the Taliban government to act like a responsible state rather than as non-state actors. He also questioned how long the current interim setup in Kabul would continue.
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have remained tense due to Pakistan’s concerns over cross-border attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan has repeatedly asked the Afghan Taliban to prevent militants from using Afghan soil against Pakistan, but Kabul denies this allegation.
Both countries engaged in several rounds of dialogue after border clashes in October. Talks in Istanbul, mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, initially struggled but continued with hopes of establishing a mechanism for lasting stability.
However, by November 7, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that discussions on cross-border terrorism had stalled indefinitely. Following this breakdown, the Afghan Taliban suspended trade ties, while Pakistan had already closed the border after the clashes.
Türkiye later announced plans for senior officials to visit Pakistan to help ease tensions, but the visit remains pending amid reported complications.
Last week, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said trade with Afghanistan could resume only if the Taliban stopped cross-border terrorism and that future regional energy projects also depended on Kabul ending its support for militant groups.
The ISPR chief also spoke about the ongoing court martial proceedings against former ISI director general Gen (r) Faiz Hameed.
He stated that the matter is purely legal and urged against speculation. Gen Hameed, in custody since August 2024, was indicted on charges including political involvement, violating anti-espionage laws and misuse of authority.
The case stems from a Supreme Court directive and allegations by a private housing society owner regarding a 2017 raid. This is one of the most significant court martial cases in Pakistan’s history, with Gen Hameed being the second three-star general and the first former ISI chief to face such a trial.
Under military law, an indictment follows an inquiry and recorded evidence, and Gen Hameed will be entitled to legal representation as the proceedings continue.
