The infographic released by Afghan Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, alleging that 741 civilians were killed in Pakistan by the military between February 22 and April 4, 2026, has been strongly rejected by Pakistani authorities and security sources. They have described it as misleading and baseless propaganda. According to officials, this narrative has been pushed at a time when Pakistan has entered a decisive phase against terrorism and has intensified operations against extremist networks in border regions.
The reality is that after the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, incidents of terrorism in Pakistan have significantly increased. In the past few years, over 5,000 Pakistani civilians have been killed, and thousands of security personnel have been targeted. These attacks have specifically targeted mosques, madrassas, imambargahs, and public spaces, including major incidents in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Bannu, and other cities. Security agencies maintain that the planning and facilitation of these attacks largely originate from Afghan territory, where terrorist elements enjoy safe havens.
The suicide attackers involved were Afghan nationals who were trained in Afghanistan before entering Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly presented evidence showing links between Afghan authorities and terrorist elements, allegedly supported and funded by India and other anti-Pakistan actors.
International reports have also highlighted that Afghan territory is being used by various terrorist groups, who are involved not only against Pakistan but also against China and other countries. According to Pakistani officials, the leadership and networks of groups like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are based in Afghanistan, from where they plan terrorist operations in Pakistan.
Pakistan launched “Operation Ghazab al-Haq” to target terrorist hideouts and facilitators, aiming to restore peace and stability in the country. Authorities emphasize that these operations are intelligence-based and only target terrorists, not civilians. Analysts say the civilian casualty narrative presented by the Afghan spokesman is an attempt to politicize these operations and gain international sympathy. The ground reality, however, shows that Pakistan has been one of the biggest victims of terrorism and is now taking practical steps to safeguard its security.
