Pakistan rejects India's criticism of Afghan strikes

Says Delhi sponsors terrorists operating from Afghan soil FO terms Pak actions 'legitimate, proportionate' and t

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Wednesday strongly rejected India's criticism of its recent military action against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, terming New Delhi's statement "baseless" and said India was actively sponsoring terrorist groups operating against Pakistan from Afghan soil.

The Foreign Office issued the response after India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned Pakistan's cross-border strikes, describing them as a "blatant act of aggression" and a threat to regional peace and stability. India had also claimed that the strikes reflected Pakistan's "persistent pattern of reckless behaviour" and amounted to an attempt to "externalise its internal failures through desperate acts of violence beyond its borders".

Responding to the Indian allegations, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan's actions were "legitimate, targeted and proportionate" measures against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.

"Pakistan rejects the baseless statement by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Pakistan's legitimate, targeted and proportionate actions against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan," the spokesperson said.

The Foreign Office further described India's remarks as "preposterous", saying they had been made by a country that had historically interfered in and undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbours in contravention of the UN Charter.

The spokesperson also pointed out that India was continuing to suppress the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in violation of relevant UN resolutions.

It further said India had been "actively aiding and sponsoring terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil against Pakistan" in violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council sanctions regime and continued to play the role of a regional spoiler.

"Such baseless accusations and inflammatory statements against Pakistan must not be entertained," the FO said.

The statement reiterated that Pakistan would continue taking all appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of its citizens in accordance with international law.

The latest exchange came days after Pakistan carried out intelligence-based operations and air strikes targeting what it described as terrorist hideouts along the Afghanistan border following the deadly Karachi attack claimed by the banned Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Islamabad maintains that the perpetrators of several recent terrorist attacks have operated from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.