Pakistan airstrikes on Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan prompt retaliation
Pakistan airstrikes on alleged Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan lead to retaliatory strikes as Kabul summons Pakistani ambassador, sparking diplomatic tensions
Pakistan has reported conducting airstrikes on hideouts allegedly belonging to the Pakistan Taliban in Afghanistan.
The military carried out early morning airstrikes on hideouts claimed to be affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban in the Host and Paktika provinces along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
While the Pakistan military has not made an official statement on the matter, the Pakistan Taliban confirmed the attacks.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government in Afghanistan, condemned the attacks, stating that in the Barmal area of Paktika, 3 women and 3 children were killed, and in Host, 2 women lost their lives.
Kabul summons Pakistan ambassador
Kabul summoned the top Pakistani diplomat following Pakistan’s airstrikes inside Afghanistan, which resulted in the death of at least 8 people, according to an official statement.
The interim Afghan Foreign Ministry lodged a protest with Islamabad over the attacks.
In response, Kabul launched its own retaliatory strikes, targeting Pakistani military installations across the border.
Describing the attacks as a “reckless violation of Afghanistan’s territory,” Afghan administration spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid emphasized that Afghanistan would “not allow anyone to invade its territory.”
These airstrikes followed the killing of at least 7 Pakistani troops by militants in North Waziristan’s Mir Ali area.
Islamabad has accused Afghanistan of failing to prevent militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a coalition of various militant groups, from launching attacks in Pakistan before seeking refuge in Afghanistan. Afghanistan denies these allegations.
Emphasis on cooperation from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry
A written statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry mentioned that “concerns” regarding the presence of the Pakistan Taliban in Afghanistan have been communicated to the Taliban government.
The statement highlighted that the Pakistan Taliban poses a “threat” to the country’s security and emphasized the priority of dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in respect of Afghanistan’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
It was mentioned in the statement that efforts will continue to work with the Taliban government against groups like the Pakistan Taliban for regional peace and security.
On March 16, in the North Waziristan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a military checkpoint was attacked with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) followed by several suicide bombings.
In the attacks and subsequent operations, 7 Pakistani soldiers lost their lives, and 6 attackers were killed.
President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers’ funerals and pledged retaliation.
Source: Newsroom
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