Pakistan Criticizes UK Envoy’s Remarks on Afghanistan Border Clashes as One-Sided

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has formally rejected recent comments made by British Special Representative Richard Lindsay regarding clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, describing the remarks as one-sided and disconnected from ground realities.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Taher Andrabi stated that the United Kingdom’s assessment failed to account for ongoing cross-border attacks and militant infiltration originating from Afghanistan. According to Andrabi, these incidents have continued despite a temporary ceasefire agreement announced in March 2026. Pakistani officials reported that the cross-border violence has resulted in 52 civilian deaths and 84 injuries. Islamabad maintained that its military response has been restrained and specifically targeted Taliban positions and infrastructure, while dismissing casualty figures provided by the Taliban as lacking documented credibility.

The diplomatic exchange follows a recent visit by Lindsay to Kabul, where he met with Taliban officials to advocate for de-escalation and the immediate reopening of border crossings to facilitate humanitarian aid. During his meetings, the British envoy warned that prolonged hostilities could severely impact more than one million women and children in the region. He also called for a return to direct dialogue between the two neighbors.

In response to the escalating tensions, informal diplomatic discussions were previously held in Istanbul and Urumqi, China, aimed at reducing friction. Pakistan reiterated its position that sustainable peace requires addressing what it described as proxy activities and security breaches along the shared frontier, while the United Kingdom continues to urge both sides to prioritize civilian safety and humanitarian access.