Pakistan's Foreign Office rejected comments by British Special Representative for Afghanistan Richard Lindsay on Saturday, calling his remarks on Pak-Afghan border tensions one-sided and disconnected from ground realities.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the envoy's comments failed to account for the root causes of cross-border militancy or the ongoing security challenges Pakistan faces. Pakistan did not name the envoy directly in its statement.
What did Pakistan's Foreign Office say about the British envoy's remarks?
Pakistan said the British envoy's comments presented an incomplete picture by ignoring the underlying drivers of militancy along the Pak-Afghan border.
Spokesperson Andrabi said the remarks overlooked continued cross-border violence and militant activity involving what Islamabad describes as Indian-linked proxies operating from Afghan territory. The Foreign Office urged the international community to better understand regional dynamics before commenting on the situation.
What did British envoy Richard Lindsay say about the Pak-Afghan border?
Lindsay posted on X on 1 May, expressing concern about "further violence along Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including strikes in Kunar."
He called for all steps to be taken to protect civilians and avoid further escalation, and said he had been urging dialogue and restraint during meetings in Afghanistan that week. Pakistan's Foreign Office responded the following day, saying the remarks failed to reflect security realities on the ground.
What is Pakistan's position on cross-border violence?
Andrabi said Pakistan had announced a temporary pause in responses in March 2026 as a goodwill gesture, but that this had not been matched by a reduction in cross-border attacks.
He said indiscriminate and unprovoked attacks from Afghan territory had continued since then, resulting in the deaths of 52 civilians and injuries to 84 others. Pakistan said it had exercised restraint while also carrying out precise and proportionate responses targeting militant positions and support infrastructure across the border.
The spokesperson rejected Afghan claims of civilian casualties caused by Pakistani strikes, saying such assertions were not supported by evidence. He said Pakistan had also taken action to disrupt militant infiltration attempts from across the border.
The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan's long-standing position on counterterrorism and highlighted what it described as the country's sustained sacrifices in fighting militancy.
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