Journalism of Courage
Pakistan Afghanistan border clashes: Afghanistan said on Sunday that its forces killed 58 Pakistani soldiers during overnight operations along the border, citing repeated violations of Afghan territory and airspace, according to the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, reported AP.
Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul that Afghan forces had captured 25 Pakistani army posts, with 30 soldiers wounded. “The situation on all official borders and de facto lines of Afghanistan is under complete control, and illegal activities have been largely prevented,” he said, according to AP.
Earlier this week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing Kabul and a market in eastern Afghanistan, though Islamabad did not claim responsibility for the attacks.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi said the Saturday’s strike was a retaliatory operation for Pakistan’s violation of Afghan airspace. The spokesperson added that the strikes concluded at midnight (local time). “If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s airspace, our armed forces are prepared to defend their airspace and will deliver a strong response,” Khowarazmi said.
Islamabad has accused the Taliban administration of harbouring Pakistan Taliban militants in Afghanistan who are accused of attacking Pakistan. The airstrikes on Friday conducted by Pakistani forces targeted the leader of the Pakistani Taliban militant group in Kabul, travelling in a vehicle, a Pakistani security official said.
After Friday’s attack, the Afghan Defence Ministry had said, “This is an unprecedented, violent and provocative act in the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan. If the situation escalates further following these actions, the consequences will be the responsibility of the Pakistani military.”
The clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border came when the Taliban administration’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi visited India this week, which became the first such trip by a senior Taliban official since the group seized power in 2021.
(with inputs from agencies)
