• FO notes Lindsay’s comments ‘devoid of deeper understanding of situation’ along Pak-Afghan boundary
• Spokesperson says such ‘unwarranted’ assertions, without linking them to root cause of terrorism, don’t offer ‘balanced and objective perspective’

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Saturday criticised a social media post by the British Special Representative for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay, regarding developments along the Pak-Afghan border, saying that the remarks were “devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation”.

On Friday, Lindsay shared a post by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on the social media platform X, which said it had documented “tens of civilians killed or injured” in strikes in eastern Afghanistan, including at a university.

“Concerned by further violence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including strikes in Kunar. All steps must be taken to protect civilians and avoid further escalation. I continue to urge dialogue and restraint, including in meetings in Afghanistan this week,” Lindsay said.

Earlier this week, the information ministry had rejected reports by Afghan media alleging that Pakistan carried out attacks targeting a university and residential areas in the neighbouring country’s Kunar province.

On Saturday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued a response to media queries regarding Lindsay’s post.

“We have seen the social media post by the British special representative for Afghanistan regarding developments along the Pak-Afghan border. The one-sided remarks are devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation along the border,” the spokesperson said.

“Cross-border aggression and terrorist infiltration attempts from the Afghan side have continued unabated despite Pakistan’s goodwill gesture of a temporary pause, announced in March 2026,” Mr Andrabi said.

Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban and terrorists operating from its soil on the night of Feb 26, following unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban. After a temporary pause on March 18 at the request of “brotherly Islamic countries”, Pakistan had announced the operation’s resumption on March 26, saying it would continue “until its objectives are achieved”.

Mr Andrabi said that since the announcement of the temporary pause, “indiscriminate and unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, and terrorist activities by Afghan Taliban-supported Indian proxies inside Pakistan, resulted in the martyrdom of 52 civilians and 84 injuries”.

“Pakistan, while exercising restraint, has responded effectively by precisely targeting Afghan Taliban posts and terrorist support infrastructure, while also thwarting multiple infiltration attempts from the Afghan side,” the FO spokesperson said.

He noted that the “Afghan claims of civilian casualties due to Pakistan’s responses lack evidential credibility”.

“Such unwarranted remarks, without linking them to the root cause of terrorism, do not offer a balanced and objective perspective,” spokesperson said.

“We urge a better understanding of regional dynamics, Pakistan’s principled stance, as well as the unparalleled sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” the spokesperson concluded.

Targeting of civilians ‘unacceptable’

On Friday night, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the spate of Afghan Taliban attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s border districts was “unacceptable, insidious and reflective of their barbaric nature towards human life”.

“Resorting to targeting civilian areas after being comprehensively beaten on the ground by the proud security forces of Pakistan and having no courage to face them is not only despicable but also speaks volumes of the low moral character of the regime leaders,” he said.

He also pointed to figures released by the Bajaur deputy commissioner regarding civilian casualties. He also said that three civilians playing cricket were also injured due to the “blatant and shameless quadcopter targeting by Fitna al Khawarij” on Friday.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term designated by the state for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2026