Taliban Deputy Army Chief Visits Paktika Border Areas, Rejects Pakistani Advance Claims
KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Defense has dismissed reports of Pakistani advances in Paktika province as baseless, following a visit by Deputy Chief of the General Staff Mali Khan Sediq to the border areas.
The ministry released a video showing Sediq inspecting Terwah district in Paktika, where he affirmed that the area remains fully under Afghan control. Officials described the circulating reports of Pakistani captures as false and misleading propaganda.
The visit occurred amid claims by Afghan officials of Pakistani incursions. Enayatullah Tofan alleged that Pakistan had captured parts of Afghan territory in Paktika and distributed Pakistani identity cards to locals, according to Afghanistan International. Separately, Faridun Samim, a Taliban spokesman in Nuristan, reported Pakistani forces attacking vehicles en route to Kamdesh and Barg-i-Matal districts, resulting in road closures.
Pajhwok Afghan News reported the ministry's rejection without mentioning the Nuristan incidents or Tofan's specific allegations. Both outlets confirmed the ministry's commitment to defending Afghanistan's territorial integrity and stated that no Afghan soil would be ceded.
The Defense Ministry emphasized its resolve to protect borders, with Sediq's inspection underscoring operational readiness in the disputed areas.
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Where reports agree
- Taliban MoD rejects Pakistani advance/capture claims in Paktika as baseless
- Deputy Chief of Staff visited the disputed Paktika/Terwah area confirming Afghan control
- MoD reaffirms commitment to territorial integrity
Where reports differ
- Specific date of MoD statement/video (Saturday 7th Hamal vs Friday)
- Precise location details (Paktika border areas vs Terwah district)
- Nuristan attacks mentioned only in Afghanistan International
- Tofan's specific claims about ID cards only in Afghanistan International
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