Pakistan on Thursday rejected claims of Islamabad’s involvement in the recent fall of Panjshir province to the Afghan Taliban, calling the allegations “unfounded.”
In response to questions about stories from certain segments of the international media alluding to Pakistan’s “participation” in Panjshir, Foreign Ministry spokesman Asim Iftikhar categorically dismissed the allegations as part of a cross-propaganda campaign against Pakistan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday afternoon. .
“Realizing how some of the fake news in the Indian media had been thoroughly exposed, the spokesman said these malicious accusations were part of a desperate attempt to malign Pakistan and deceive the community. international, “he added.
Islamabad reiterated Pakistan’s ongoing commitment to a peaceful, stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan.
Last week, several Indian media outlets claimed that Pakistan’s air force helped the Taliban and carried out airstrikes against anti-Taliban force positions in Panjshir.
India’s major television channels broadcast images of American F-15 aircraft and the popular military simulation game Arma 3 claimed to be exclusive videos of Pakistani air force attacks.
“Indian news channel @TimesNow has aired a clip of an American F-15 flying in Wales and has claimed it is evidence of a ‘full-fledged Pakistani invasion’ of Afghanistan,” the UK Defense Journal, a British defense news website.
On Monday, the Taliban seized Panjshir, which was the last of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan that were not under its control, defeating forces led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the famous anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud.
After the fall of Panjshir was confirmed, an anti-Taliban protest was organized in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh province, which was quickly followed by a counter-opposition in favor of the Taliban and the imposition. of Islamic law in Afghanistan.
A demonstration was also held against Pakistan in the Afghan capital, Kabul, accusing Islamabad of aiding the Taliban.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also intervened and said they were investigating reports of the presence of foreign forces in Panjshir.
“We condemn any foreign interference in Afghanistan,” Khatibzadeh said.
However, the reports were dismissed by the Pakistani army and the Taliban.
Pakistani army spokesman General Babar Iftikhar dismissed the “complete lies”, describing the reports as “irrational propaganda of India”.
“Pakistan has nothing to do with what’s going on in Afghanistan, whether it’s Panjshir or anywhere else,” he told the BBC.