KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban defended Iran’s air campaign against Israel, saying that Tehran has exercised its “legitimate right to self-defense.”
In a statement on Sunday, April 14, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned Israel for its continued crimes and violation of diplomatic laws, citing the targeting of Iran’s consulate in Syria as a recent example.
“The zionist regime, in continuation of their crimes & in contravention of all diplomatic norms & international laws, targeted the Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Syrian Capital, Damascus, On the 1st of April, 2024, in response to which the Islamic Republic of Iran exercised its legitimate right to self-defense last night (14th April, 2024),” Balkhi said.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry stated that since last October, Israel has attempted to divert global attention from the genocide of over 33,000 civilians in Gaza by violating the airspace of sovereign states and engaging in provocations aimed at exacerbating regional insecurity.
Mr. Balkhi also called upon influential world and regional states to expedite their efforts in halting the crimes of the “Zionist regime”, aiming to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Iran said that its overnight firing of over 300 drones and missiles at Israel was a retaliation for an attack on its consulate in Syria on 1 April, which resulted in the deaths of seven military advisers, including three senior commanders.
The large-scale attack by Iran on Israel has concluded with relatively minimal damage, but it signals a significant transformation in the conflict between the two longtime enemies.
Iranian authorities said that their first-ever direct attack on Israel was in retaliation for Israel’s targeting of Iranian personnel. They declared the retaliation as concluded, but also warned of a harsher response if Israel strikes again in the future.
Iran’s strikes on Israel have met with widespread yet varied reactions around the world, amplifying concerns about escalating tensions in the region and further complicating the ongoing conflict.
The United States, Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union have strongly condemned Iran’s attack, with the United States and Britain emphasizing unwavering support for Israel.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, the former president, and Abdullah Abdullah, the former Chief Executive Officer of the previous government, also deemed Iran’s attack on Israel as Iran’s “legitimate right.”
In his statement shared on social media, Karzai expressed, “Iran, as a brotherly and neighboring country of Afghanistan, has stood by our people in tough times, and Afghans also feel empathy and solidarity with the people of Iran.”
The former president emphasized that the conflict in the Gaza Strip has led to the most severe humanitarian crisis and must end as soon as possible, with the implementation of a permanent ceasefire and the fulfillment of the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state.
Abdullah Abdullah said that any action by Israel against Iran and the escalation of tensions directly affects the situation in Afghanistan as Iran currently hosts millions of Afghan refugees.
Saying that Iran’s response to Israel constitutes a defensive action, a reaction to the “violation of Iran’s national sovereignty,” he warned that the continuation of tensions could lead to unpredictable and unfavorable consequences for regional stability and global peace and security
