ISLAMABAD: Social media users and commentators have strongly criticised a recent BBC report on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations inside Afghanistan, accusing it of presenting a one-sided narrative and ignoring militant sanctuaries across the border.
The BBC published a story titled “Pakistan struck a rehab centre and killed 269 Afghans. Their families want to know why,” referring to Pakistani airstrikes carried out two months ago in multiple areas of Afghanistan targeting ammunition depots, drone facilities and militant hideouts in response to the Afghan Taliban and its backed TTP aggression at Pakistan’s border.
Pakistani officials have not issued a detailed response to the specific BBC claims in the report.
Journalist Anas Mallick, who reports on diplomacy, militancy and conflict, reshared the BBC story on social media and said Pakistan has faced a sharp rise in terrorism since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
He said terrorist attacks have increased by 300 percent and suicide attacks by 500 percent, adding that Pakistan has lost more than 4,000 citizens in cross-border violence.
Mallick questioned why militant groups continue to find safe havens across the border, allowing them to carry out attacks inside Pakistan. He said focusing on a single incident without broader context misrepresents the situation.
Another social media user, Nadeem Jibran, said Pakistan has consistently respected international law and called the BBC report unverified and sensationalist. He demanded evidence to support the claims made in the story.
Pakistan has always respected international law. The BBC report is based on unverified claims. We demand proof. Without proof, this is just sensationalism.
— Nadeem Jibran (@jibran_nad67341) May 12, 2026
Zardan Sangzi tweeted that Afghan Taliban-linked militant groups continue to operate from Afghan territory and carry out cross-border attacks in Pakistan. They claimed that more than 25 people were killed in attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over two days, while additional casualties were reported since Eid-ul-Fitr due to cross-border shelling.
Afghan Taliban-backed TTP terrorists, who still have hubs and bases inside Afghanistan, martyred 25+ people in two days in KP, while Taliban shelling has martyred 50+ people since Eid ul Fitr.
But BBC News and other media keep pushing Taliban propaganda without even providing… pic.twitter.com/EKXEhBaY4O
— Zardan Sangzi (@ZardanSi) May 12, 2026
Umair Khan in his post sia said that rehab struck news in misinformation
Correction: Struck an ammo depot, which caused secondary explosions due to gunpowder (visible in the video), leading to fire in nearby buildings.
For some reason, “rehab” was in the military base.
Either way, it’s unfortunate, but “struck” is misinformation. pic.twitter.com/OMRbTlh67g
— MD Umair Khan (@MDUmairKh) May 12, 2026
TTA has a history of lying. They have killed more Afghans than anyone else.
A rehab centre? In a conflict zone? The TTA have used civilian infrastructure for military purposes before. If a strike happened, it was on a legitimate target.
— Summan Khan (@SummanKhan77613) May 12, 2026
