New Delhi: In fresh tensions between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the latter’s defence ministry said it had targeted Pakistani troops at the border in response to airstrikes in Afghan areas of Khost and Paktika early Monday.
In a statement Monday, the Taliban defence ministry said Afghan border forces targeted Pakistani military positions along with heavy artillery in response to alleged Pakistani bombings of civilian homes in districts of Khost, Barmal, Paktika.
In a separate statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the “reckless” Pakistani strikes took place at 3 am (local time) Monday, killing three women and three children.
The spokesperson also issued scathing remarks against the Pakistani military establishment, accusing it of “wrong policies”.
“The people of Pakistan and the new government should stop some army generals from the continuation of their wrong policies for the benefit of others like the last 20-years and stop spoiling the relationship between the two neighbouring Muslim nations,” read the Taliban statement.
Though Islamabad is yet to issue an official response, reports indicate that Pakistan was targeting the hideout of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Abdullah Shah in Afghanistan in its strikes Monday morning.
However, the Taliban claims the TTP commander is located in Pakistan.
“The person named Abdullah Shah, who the Pakistani side claims was targeted in the incident, is in Pakistan. On the other hand, there is a tribe living on both sides of this region who have daily trips and close relationships (sic),” said the statement from the Taliban.
IEA’s Spokesperson Statement Regarding the Airstrikes of Pakistan in Afghanistan https://t.co/TkB0mpIGd3 pic.twitter.com/8Umztvsrtb
— Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 18, 2024
On Saturday, unknown militants attacked a Pakistan military post with explosives and suicide bombs, killing military personnel, including two officers. The incident took place in north Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan.
While attending the funeral of the officers who died — Lt-Col Syed Kashif Ali and Capt Muhammad Ahmed Bader — Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari vowed strong retaliation against the militants and to eradicate terrorism.
صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری کی میر علی، شمالی وزیرستان میں دہشت گردوں کے حملے کی مذمت
صدر مملکت کا دہشت گرد حملے میں شہید ہونے والے پاک فوج کے افسروں اور جوانوں کو خراج عقیدت
صدر مملکت کا دہشت گردی کے مکمل خاتمے کے قومی عزم کا اظہار
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 16, 2024
Warning of ‘consequences’
In its statement, the Taliban spokesperson hit out at Pakistan’s domestic situation, which has been marked by an economic crisis and political instability especially during the recently-held elections in the country.
“Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence and problems in its own territory. Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out of Pakistan’s control,” the Taliban statement warned.
Ties between Pakistan and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan have been strained since the latter grabbed power in the country in February 2021.
The TTP has become a security menace for Pakistan, with United Nations (UN) reports indicating that the Afghan Taliban has been supplying its Pakistani counterpart weapons.
Earlier this month, Pakistan urged the UN to investigate the sources that financed TTP, warning that the terror group could become a global threat.
Adding to the strain in ties, Pakistan last November announced it would expel over 1.73 million undocumented Afghan refugees in its territory. This prompted strong reactions from the international community. The Taliban, meanwhile, called it a “hasty decision” on the part of Islamabad.
“They have made a hasty decision regarding immigrants. They [Pakistan] violated the rights of immigrants, which are in accordance with international laws,” Taliban Deputy of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation told Afghan news outlet TOLO News at the time.
Approximately 5,00,000 illegal Afghans have already been deported, say local reports, and the rest will be deported after Eid.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: ‘Last Torch’ — how two burqa-clad sisters became the voice of resistance against Afghan Taliban