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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dismissed claims circulating on social media about the removal of barbed wire along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, calling them &ldquo;fabricated&rdquo; and part of a wider misinformation campaign amid ongoing cross-border tensions. In a statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting&rsquo;s fact-checking unit said videos shared by Taliban-linked outlets showing individuals cutting border fencing were staged and misleading. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039357175139815579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=f02c18f8d4b3e600f453b7a7597dc682e3e72516&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 626px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2039357175139815579"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;The multiple claims&hellip; regarding the removal of barbed wire along the Pak-Afghan border are fabricated and devoid of facts,&rdquo; the ministry said. According to the statement, the clips, circulating over the past week, depict individuals briefly cutting sections of fencing before leaving, describing the content as &ldquo;staged&rdquo; and part of a propaganda effort. &ldquo;All clips&hellip; are staged content, outdated, and part of propaganda tactics,&rdquo; the ministry added. Operation Ghazab lil HaqThe claims emerge as Pakistan&rsquo;s cross-border military campaign, Operation Ghazab lil Haq, continues following weeks of escalation triggered by &ldquo;cross-border terrorist attacks.&rdquo; Pakistani officials say the operation has targeted terrorist infrastructure, including camps, logistics hubs and support networks used to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Authorities have also reported drone incidents, artillery exchanges and strikes on what they describe as terrorist-linked installations in Afghanistan, underscoring heightened tensions along the border. &#39;Fence remains intact&rsquo;Pakistan began fencing the more than 2,600-kilometre border with Afghanistan in 2017 to curb illegal crossings and infiltration by terrorist groups. Officials say the fence remains operational and secure. &ldquo;Pak-Afghan border fence is fully intact, and all such attempts are met with an immediate and strong response,&rdquo; the ministry said. The statement added that the Afghan side does not maintain the border in the same way, alleging that gaps are exploited by terrorist groups and criminal networks. The ministry said the circulation of such content follows recent military developments, including the destruction of hundreds of posts during the ongoing operation. It described the videos as part of a broader pattern of misinformation. &ldquo;Afghan Taliban regime&hellip; are internationally known for frivolous claims,&rdquo; the statement said, referencing previous unverified claims including alleged drone strikes and aircraft incidents. Officials say the information environment has become an increasingly important dimension of the conflict, with competing narratives emerging alongside military developments. Pakistan maintains that its operations are based on verified intelligence and aimed at countering terrorism, while urging caution against unverified claims circulating online.

Security

Officials say viral videos showing fence removal are staged and outdated, emphasizing the border barrier remains intact and monitored, while warning of coordinated misinformation efforts amid ongoing military operations and heightened tensions along the border.

Pakistan rejects Afghan border fence claims as propaganda amid tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said its cross-border military campaign has resumed after a temporary Eid pause, stressing that operations will continue until Afghanistan addresses support for terrorist networks operating from its territory. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Operation Ghazab lil Haq remains a targeted effort against terrorist infrastructure and leadership inside Afghanistan. &ldquo;Operation Ghazab lil Haq is ongoing. It is a precise, targeted military campaign directed against terrorist leadership and their support, command infrastructure, logistics networks and facilitators,&rdquo; Andrabi said during a media briefing. He confirmed that a temporary pause observed during Eid-ul-Fitr, announced following requests from friendly countries, has now ended. &ldquo;The pause has concluded&hellip; operations under Operation Ghazab lil Haq continue now until the objectives are achieved,&rdquo; he said. Andrabi said Pakistan had pursued diplomatic engagement with the Afghan Taliban for several years before launching military action. &ldquo;You cannot fault us for not exploring all avenues of peace. We did explore all avenues but violence and attacks from Afghanistan did not stop,&rdquo; he said. He noted that high-level engagements, including visits to Kabul by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, focused on connectivity, economic cooperation and humanitarian support, but failed to produce results on counterterrorism. &ldquo;Yet the Taliban regime&rsquo;s connections with the TTP were not severed,&rdquo; Andrabi said. The spokesperson said international reporting has documented links between the Afghan Taliban and terrorist groups targeting Pakistan. &ldquo;UN reports have very categorically linked the TTP and other terrorist elements&hellip; with the Taliban regime. These connections have been well documented,&rdquo; he said. Andrabi added that Pakistan&rsquo;s recent strikes targeted infrastructure used by such groups. &ldquo;We do not need any further proof for that,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan also said its military response has reduced the frequency of attacks inside the country. &ldquo;Terrorist attacks against Pakistan&hellip; have diminished sharply since we responded militarily,&rdquo; Andrabi said, pointing to a downward trend in casualties. &ldquo;We have reasons to believe that our actions and strikes have decreased the ability of the TTP to&hellip; perpetrate attacks against Pakistan,&rdquo; he added. Andrabi said Pakistan remains open to peace but requires firm commitments from Afghan authorities. &ldquo;We hope that this window will enable the Afghan side to come with an unwavering commitment&hellip; that their territory would not be used to target Pakistan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This assurance&hellip; is their obligation under international law&hellip; and under the Doha Agreement,&rdquo; he added. He emphasized that Pakistan&rsquo;s objective is stability rather than escalation. &ldquo;We have nothing against the people of Afghanistan. We do not want military action or strikes. We want peace and progress,&rdquo; Andrabi said. The remarks come after weeks of cross-border tensions, including drone incidents, artillery exchanges and Pakistani strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure. Pakistan says the campaign is aimed at dismantling networks responsible for attacks inside the country, while maintaining that operations are conducted with precision and based on verified intelligence.

Foreign Affairs

FO says Operation Ghazab lil Haq remains a targeted effort against terrorist infrastructure and leadership inside Afghanistan; notes high-level engagements, including visits to Kabul by deputy prime minister, focused on connectivity, economic cooperation, and humanitarian support, but failed to produce results on counterterrorism.





Pakistan says Afghan policy shift needed as operation resumes

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s military reported killing 13&nbsp;Indian-backed terrorists during multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-15-terrorists-in-balochistan-operation-military" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">intelligence-driven operations</a>&nbsp;in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the casualties following engagements on March 6-7. The operations spanned five districts near the Afghan border as troops targeted Fitna al Khwarij (Indian proxy group). Security forces in the area engaged a militant position in the Bajaur district, resulting in the deaths of five terrorists. The forces killed three more terrorists during two separate encounters in the Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan districts. Pakistani troops eliminated five additional targets during simultaneous operations in the Khyber and <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-military-chief-reviews-western-border-security-amid-afghan-operation" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">South Waziristan</a> districts in the country&rsquo;s northwest. Personnel recovered weapons and ammunition from the slain terrorists. The military noted that these individuals had actively participated in regional terrorist activities. Security forces have been conducting these operations concurrently with broader efforts to secure the Afghan border against emerging threats, maintaining a resolute commitment to defending national borders. Clearance operations continue in the region to eliminate any remaining foreign-sponsored elements.&nbsp; The nationwide counter-terrorism campaign operates under the government-approved &quot;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/34-indiansponsored-terrorists-killed-in-counterterror-operations-ispr" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Azm-e-Istehkam</a>&quot; security framework, a counter-insurgency operation launched in June 2024. Law enforcement and security agencies plan to continue operations at full pace to eradicate foreign-supported terrorism from the country.

A Pakistani policeman stands guard at a security checkpoint in Bannu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on February 28, 2026 amid cross-border fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan. (AFP)

The military announced the casualties following two days of intelligence-driven engagements across five districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operations targeted Indian proxy groups, Fitna al Khwarij.

Pakistan's security forces kill 13 Indian-backed terrorists near Afghan border: Military 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected a statement attributed to the Afghan Taliban spokesperson regarding the Istanbul talks, which seeks to deliberately distort the facts.&nbsp;In a post on X, Afghan news agency Ariana News quoted spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, saying that during the Istanbul talks, Afghanistan &ldquo;was willing to deport people Islamabad considers a security threat,&rdquo; but Pakistan did not accept the offer.&nbsp;Rejecting the claim, the Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting stated in a post on X:&nbsp;&ldquo;When the Afghan side said that they were Pakistani nationals, Pakistan immediately proposed that they be handed over through designated border posts, consistent with Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing position,&rdquo; adding that any claim to the contrary is false and misleading. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1984625202018599161&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1879%2F&sessionId=67b5d76852f4a487cd242e7b1cf53b4e40416903&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan also strongly rejected statements by the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with a TV channel on Saturday, regarding the recent Istanbul talks between delegations from both countries. The spokesperson had accused Pakistan of undermining ties and accused it of conducting airstrikes on Afghan soil. Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, responding to Mujahid&rsquo;s allegations, issued a categorical statement on X dismissing the claims. &ldquo;There exists complete unanimity of views among all Pakistanis, including the country&rsquo;s political and military leadership, regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s security policies and its comprehensive approach toward Afghanistan,&rdquo; he said. He added that the people of Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are fully aware of the treacherous and barbaric patronization of Indian-sponsored terrorism by the Afghan Taliban regime. &ldquo;They harbor no illusions about its intent or conduct,&rdquo; he noted. The minister described the Taliban&rsquo;s narrative as an attempt to deflect attention from its own failures. &ldquo;It is the non-representative Afghan Taliban regime that suffers from deep internal factionalism and is responsible for the continued oppression of Afghan ethnicities, women, children, and minorities,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Even after four years in power, the regime has failed to fulfill its promises to the international community.&rdquo; He said Pakistan&rsquo;s policy remains consistent and focused on regional peace. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s policy to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism and the perverted ideology of Khawarij remains unified, unwavering, and firmly anchored in national interest as well as in the pursuit of regional stability,&rdquo; he emphasized.

Information Ministry says, consistent with its long-standing position, Pakistan demands that terrorists in Afghanistan posing a threat be controlled or arrested.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Afghanistan border"

Pakistan rejects Afghan border fence claims as propaganda amid tensions

Pakistan says Afghan policy shift needed as operation resumes

Pakistan's security forces kill 13 Indian-backed terrorists near Afghan border: Military

Pakistan denies Taliban claim of refused deportation deal at Istanbul talks