FO spokesperson says India has long supported terrorists groups operating from Afghan territory
Tahir Andrabi speaking at the weekly Foreign Office press briefing Photo file: X/FO
The Foreign Office on Sunday rejected remarks made by India regarding Pakistan’s targeted and precise actions against terrorist hideouts and support bases inside Afghanistan, terming the statement “absurd, unwarranted and shamefully hypocritical.”
The FO spokesperson’s statement came in response to criticism by his Indian counterpart, who accused Pakistan of causing civilian deaths through air strikes in Afghanistan.
Pakistan launched ‘Operation Ghazab Lil Haq’ over two weeks ago after Afghan Taliban forces fired on multiple locations, prompting swift military retaliation. The neighbours have clashed along the frontier since Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes.
Islamabad said its February air strikes that sparked the escalation were targeting terrorists. Islamabad accused Afghanistan of failing to act against terrorist groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government rejected. The border fighting has hit multiple Afghan provinces. The violence of recent days is the worst since the October fighting killed more than 70 people on both sides, with land borders between the neighbours largely shut since.
Read More: Forces destroy technical infrastructure, equipment storage facility in overnight strikes in Kandahar: Tarar
In a statement issued on X, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi responded to media queries about comments made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on counterterrorism actions.
🔊PR No.6️⃣8️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Statement by the Spokesperson in Response to Media Queries Regarding Pakistan’s Response to the Statement Issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dbJ2k9thNJ— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) March 14, 2026
“The remarks by the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding Pakistan’s legitimate, targeted and precise actions against terrorist hideouts and support bases inside Afghanistan are not only absurd and unwarranted but also shamefully hypocritical,” the statement said.
The Foreign Office alleged that India has long supported terrorists groups operating from Afghan territory.
“India’s active support and sponsorship of terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan, are well known,” the spokesperson said, adding that New Delhi’s reaction reflects “frustration at the destruction of its terrorist franchise in Afghanistan.”
The statement further accused India of violating international law and human rights, particularly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“India, a serial violator of human rights and international law, continues to illegally occupy Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in violation of the United Nations Charter and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions,” the spokesperson said.
Read More: Six terrorists killed by CTD, police in Kohat operation
It also accused India of marginalising minorities and spreading Islamophobia under what it described as Hindutva extremist ideology, while alleging that New Delhi had “weaponised water in contravention of its treaty obligations.”
According to the Foreign Office, India has played a destabilising role not only in Afghanistan but across the region.
“With such shameful credentials, India is in no position to make such statements and must instead focus on refraining from stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil,” the statement added.
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to protecting its citizens and acting within international law.
“For its part, Pakistan remains determined to take all appropriate actions in self-defence and to protect its citizens in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter,” the statement concluded.
