Islamabad, March 14, 2026: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Saturday rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban regarding the alleged capture of a Pakistani military post, calling the statement “false, fabricated and designed to mislead internal public opinion” in Afghanistan.
In a post on the social media platform X, the ministry’s fact-checking account shared a screenshot of a statement issued by the Afghan Ministry of Defence, which claimed that Taliban forces had captured a Pakistani military outpost and killed 14 soldiers.
Responding to the claim, the Pakistani ministry said the allegation had “no basis” and was part of propaganda aimed at shaping domestic perceptions in Afghanistan.
“This latest claim of the so-called Ministry of Defence of the Afghan Taliban regime regarding capturing some post and made-up damages is false as always, fabricated and designed to mislead Afghan internal public opinion,” the ministry said.
The statement added that the damages and losses incurred by what it termed the “master proxy Afghan Taliban and their extension Fitna al Khawarij” were being regularly updated by the ministry with evidence.
“Related video and pictorial evidence, where applicable, is also shared with the media rather than resorting to fake claims and propaganda,” it said, adding that authorities were exercising caution to ensure credible and timely information regarding ongoing targeted operations against terrorist infrastructure.
The government uses the term “Fitna al Khawarij” to refer to militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ministry also alleged that Taliban claims were being amplified through terrorist and Indian media networks but lacked credible or verifiable proof.
Ministers dismiss Taliban claim
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also rejected the Taliban’s assertion, describing it as another “false claim” by the Afghan administration.
“These false claims have no basis or foundation,” Tarar said in a post on X, adding that Pakistan regularly shares “irrefutable pictorial and video evidence” of losses suffered by Taliban-linked militants.
Similarly, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said propaganda would not protect militant networks.
“Taliban propaganda collapses when confronted with facts. Pakistan’s operations against Fitna al Khawarij remain focused, relentless and decisive,” she said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi accused the Afghan Taliban of focusing on propaganda instead of dismantling militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
“Propaganda won’t cause Pakistan to end its counterterrorism operations. Only the end of terrorism from Afghan soil to Pakistan will,” he said.
Rising tensions
Relations between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban administration have remained strained amid a resurgence of militant attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban government to act against militant sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the TTP, but officials say those calls have not been adequately addressed.
Last month, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq following what authorities described as unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces from across the border.
A day earlier, the government also confirmed carrying out overnight air strikes against suspected militant positions and support facilities in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia.
