ISLAMABAD: Social media posts by former Afghan intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil have triggered international concern after he called for attacks on civilian infrastructure inside Pakistan.
Nabil, who previously headed Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), shared a series of posts reacting to recent Pakistani strikes in Kabul.
In an initial message in Dari, Nabi suggested that civilian sites in Pakistan could be considered “legitimate targets”.
He appeared to escalate his remarks by naming specific locations inside Pakistan, including key energy and fuel infrastructure sites.
“These are legitimate targets on Pakistani soil,” Nabil wrote on X, listing facilities including an oil terminal in Mahmud Kot, Shakarpur Oil Depot, Uch Gas and LPG Processing Plant, Loralai Fuel Depot and Kohat LPG Storage Terminal.
په کابل کی د ننی حملی څخه وروسته د پاکستان په خاوره کی د ریښتینی ارادی په صورت کی دا مشروع هدفونه دی!
پاکستان له لوري نن پر کابل بمبار او د معتادینو د درملنې په یوه مرکز کې د سلګونو ملکي وګړو وژل هغه د شرم داغ دی چې د افغانستان د خلکو له حافظې څخه به هېڅکله پاک نه شي. د… https://t.co/AF7O0MiHP7
— Rahmatullah Nabil (@RahmatullahN) March 16, 2026
Islamabad rejects allegations
Nabil’s comments came after Pakistani military operations targeting terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.
Pakistani authorities have firmly denied allegations that civilians were targeted in those strikes, maintaining that operations were directed solely at terrorist facilities posing threats to national security.
A fact-check issued by the information ministry said that claims by the Afghan Taliban that Omid Hospital had been hit were incorrect.
The ministry stated that the hospital was “multiple kilometres away” from Camp Phoenix, which is a military site used for storing ammunition and equipment and the intended target of the strike.
🔎 Fact Check | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
◼️ Omid Hospital being claimed to be hit by Afghan Taliban regime in the tweet is actually multiple kilometres away from Camp Phoenix, the military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site precisely targeted last… pic.twitter.com/60hu3m2JZf
— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) March 17, 2026
Taliban mortar fire kills civilians in Bajaur
The developments come amid rising violence along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border.
On Sunday, four civilians were killed and a five-year-old child critically injured after mortar shells fired from across the border struck a residential area in north-western Pakistan.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the shells were fired by Afghan Taliban terrorists into the Salarzai area of Bajaur district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The attack hit a house in the village of Tabesta Letai at around 3:30pm, killing four brothers identified as Sajid, Ayaz, Riaz and Muaz, he said.
“One five-year-old child was also seriously injured when the house was hit in the attack,” Tarar said in a statement.
✅ 15 March 2026
Attack on innocent civilians by Afghan Taliban Regime in Bajaur
▪️ Today on 15th of March 2026 around 1530 hours, Afghan Taliban regime deliberately targeted civilian population through artillery / mortar fire from across the border in Tabesta Letai, Salarzai… pic.twitter.com/M8PdBra2eN
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 15, 2026
Pakistan vows retaliation
Pakistan said it had launched retaliatory strikes against positions linked to Afghan Taliban terrorists.
“A befitting and aggressive response is being given to Afghan Taliban regime positions and infrastructure responsible for this dastardly act,” Tarar said.
He accused the Afghan Taliban of deliberately targeting civilians and alleged coordination with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistani authorities refer to as Fitna al-Khawarij.
“This cowardly and heinous deliberate targeting of civilians by the Afghan Taliban regime, in cohorts with terrorists organisation Fitna al-Khawarij, is a grievous violation of international law and basic human values,” he said.
Tarar added that the attack reflected “frustration and desperation” among terrorist groups following recent setbacks inflicted by Pakistani security forces.
On Tuesday, Pakistan said its forces had carried out strikes on Taliban-linked sites in Kabul and Nangarhar overnight.
Tarar also said Pakistani forces had precisely targeted Camp Phoenix during the latest operation.
The military action forms part of “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq”, launched on the night of February 26 following unprovoked firing from across the border.
