Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s minister for information and broadcasting, has accused the Afghan Taliban of attacking Pakistani civilians.
In a statement, he said the Taliban has been “completely defeated” on the battlefield by the Pakistani army and no longer has the courage to confront Pakistani forces directly.
Tarar added that resorting to targeting civilian areas under such circumstances is not only “abhorrent,” but also reflects the Taliban leadership’s moral weakness.
He referred to casualty figures from what he described as “Taliban attacks” in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to Pakistani officials, since Feb. 27, 2026, nine civilians, including six women and children, have been killed and 12 others injured in Taliban attacks in Bajaur.
Tarar said the Taliban’s “deliberate” attacks on civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demonstrate its “brutal disregard for human life.”
He said Pakistan has not intentionally targeted civilians in Afghanistan, adding that Islamabad only strikes what it calls “terrorist infrastructure” and has shared details of the targeted locations with the public.
Pakistan’s information minister said the country’s military exercises maximum caution to avoid civilian casualties.
In recent days, reports said the Pakistani army carried out attacks in Kunar province, killing seven civilians and injuring around 80 others.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), without naming Pakistan, confirmed the attack in Kunar and said it had documented the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians.
