ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday debunked claims that Afghan forces conducted airstrikes on Pakistani military bases, calling the reports "completely false."
The move follows social media posts and news reports from Kabul alleging that the interim Afghan Taliban government targeted high-profile installations deep within Pakistani territory.
Claims of strikes
The Afghan Defense Ministry announced Sunday on the social media platform X that its air force had allegedly struck military bases in Pakistan. The ministry cited attacks near the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi.
Local news outlets, such as TOLO news, reported that security sources said Afghan forces targeted the army corps headquarters in the city of Quetta, Balochistan. The report claimed the strikes responded to "indiscriminate bombings" by the Pakistani military.
Indian media outlets amplified the fabrications a day later. They described a "dramatic escalation" in regional tensions. Some reports linked the hostilities to wider conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
State rebuttal
The information ministry’s fact-check wing rejected the claims, describing them as "futile efforts" to create "fake success stories." Officials stated the Afghan Taliban lack the capability to conduct long-range aerial attacks.
The ministry noted the Taliban air force relies on a small fleet of aging Mi-17 helicopters and captured aircraft. It said the group lacks modern combat jets and maintenance support.
The XII Corps headquarters in Quetta sits more than 150 kilometers from the border. Pakistan officials said the site is protected by robust air defense systems.
Border allegations
The claims follow a separate debunked report on Feb. 28 alleging a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone landed at a Pakistani airbase in Jiwani.
Pakistan officials stated that no foreign military is using their territory. They identified the drone as a specific US Navy model but said it never entered Pakistani airspace.
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