ISLAMABAD, Oct. 11 -- The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday avoided directly confirming reports of Pakistani strikes in Kabul, instead describing the country's actions as legitimate self-defence against militants operating from Afghan territory.

At the weekly briefing, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan "reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of its people," while stressing that all security operations are "intelligence-driven" and target terrorist groups such as the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). "Pakistan respects the sovereignty of Afghanistan and remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation with our neighbour to address the shared challenges of terrorism," Khan said....