FO hits out at UK envoy’s ‘one-sided’ remark | The Express Tribune
The Foreign Office on Saturday denounced a social media post by British Special Representative for Afghanistan Richard Lindsay regarding developments along the border with Afghanistan, terming the "one-sided remarks … devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation along the border".
The remarks come as the UK special envoy took to X, expressing concern over violence along the border. He cited reported strikes in Kunar in Afghanistan and said that steps must be taken to protect civilian lives and prevent further escalation.
Lindsay stated this in response to a post regarding reported civilian casualties in Afghanistan. The British envoy also visited Afghanistan this week, saying he had urged dialogue and restraint in meetings there.
In a statement, Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, "We have seen the social media post by the British SRA regarding developments along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border."
It added, "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."
Since the pause, the spokesperson said, "indiscriminate and unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, and terrorist activities by Afghan Taliban-supported Indian proxies inside Pakistan, have resulted in the shahadat [martyrdom] of 52 civilians and 84 injuries."
Pakistan, while exercising restraint, had responded effectively by "precisely targeting Afghan Taliban posts and terrorist support infrastructure", the statement read.
At the same time, Pakistan continued to thwart "multiple infiltration attempts from the Afghan side".
According to the statement, Afghan claims of civilian casualties due to Pakistan's responses lacked evidential credibility. "Such unwarranted remarks, without linking them to the root cause of terrorism, do not offer a balanced and objective perspective," it said.
The spokesperson urged a better understanding of regional dynamics, as well as Pakistan's principled stance and the "unparalleled sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism".
On Friday, Pakistan's security forces killed 13 terrorists while foiling two separate infiltration attempts along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations said.
The same day, local authorities said that at least nine civilians died while 12 others were injured in cross-border firing and shelling by Afghan forces over the past two months in K-P's Bajaur district.
A day prior, at least five people were injured after the Afghan Taliban once again shelled and targeted Pakistani civilian populations in border areas adjacent to Angoor Adda in the South Waziristan district of K-P, security sources said.
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