Published on, Sept. 6 -- September 6, 2025 1:59 AM

Every conflict has two versions of truth: one rooted in lived realities and another crafted to deflect responsibility. When the BBC recently carried an interview with Mullah Yaqoob, Afghanistan's Defence Minister, it chose to amplify the latter. The conversation was framed as an honest reflection of Kabul's stance, but in essence, it became a platform for carefully rehearsed denials and evasions. The narrative painted Afghanistan as a misunderstood neighbor while shifting the burden of insecurity squarely onto Pakistan.

Such framing is not just misleading; it erases decades of evidence, sacrifices, and bloodshed that Pakistan has endured in the fight against terrorism. Instead of interr...