Kabul-Islamabad relations turn for worse as Pakistan unleashes air strikes at civilians in Afghanistan

Pakistani Air Force carried out air strikes in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province as also in the province’s Ghani Khel and Behsud districts, TOLO News reported, citing sources.

Reports added that in Behsud district, the home of a civilian identified as Shahabuddin was targeted.

Advertisement

According to TOLO News, Pakistani forces also conducted airstrikes at a religious seminary in the Barmal and Urgun districts of Paktika province.

Meanwhile, Pakistani media sources also confirmed Islamabad’s airstrikes. Ostensibly, strikes were targeted at alleged terrorist camps along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Geo News, citing Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, reported that the strikes targeted seven camps and hideouts of Fitna al Khwarij (FAK), its affiliates and Daesh Khorasan Province (DKP), claiming the action was conducted “with precision and accuracy” in response to recent suicide attacks in Islamabad, Bajaur and Bannu during Ramzan.

The ministry alleged that the suicide bombings were carried out at the direction of Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers, adding that responsibility was claimed by elements linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh, Geo News reported.
Despite Islamabad’s claims that it repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to prevent the use of Afghan territory by terrorist groups, Pakistan itself has long faced international scrutiny for providing safe havens and logistical support to various terror outfits operating across the region.

In its statement, Pakistan said it expects the interim Afghan government to fulfil its obligations and prevent the use of its soil against Pakistan. It also called on the international community to press Afghan authorities to honour commitments under the Doha Agreement.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday said Pakistan reserves the right to target Afghanistan to protect the lives of its citizens amid a spike in cross-border tensions following a deadly attack in Bajaur, as per Dawn.

“Pakistan very legitimately demands that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism inside Pakistan. So, as long as this demand is not met, whilst exercising patience, all options would obviously remain on the table,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at the weekly media briefing, as quoted by Dawn.