The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has vowed to respond to a Pakistani airstrike on Barmal, Paktika, calling the attack an infringement on their sovereignty and emphasizing their right to defend their territory. The Ministry claimed the bombing targeted "Waziristani refugees," resulting in civilian casualties, reports Kabul’s newspaper Khaama.
While Pakistani officials have not officially acknowledged the airstrike, military sources on Wednesday suggested that the operation aimed at eliminating Taliban hideouts near the border. The attack comes amid heightened tensions, as the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) has escalated assaults on Pakistan’s security forces. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring TTP militants, a charge the Taliban denies.
Taliban Ministry of Defense spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarazmi disputed Pakistan’s claims, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that the airstrikes killed civilians, including women and children. Initial reports indicate at least 15 bodies, many of them children, have been recovered, with the toll expected to rise.
The Taliban views the Waziristani refugees as displaced civilians from Pakistan’s tribal areas, while Islamabad alleges that Afghan border provinces shelter TTP commanders and fighters. This divide underscores the growing discord between the two neighbors.
Tensions have intensified over Pakistan’s demand for Afghan cooperation in curbing cross-border militancy, which the Taliban has resisted. The lack of trust and mutual accusations have led to a precarious security situation, with no resolution in sight. As both sides continue to assert their positions, the risk of further military confrontations looms, threatening regional stability.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
