Pakistan’s military has rejected accusations by the Taliban that conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
According to Geo News, Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, in remarks aired on Pakistan’s state television, said: Pakistan has not attacked Afghanistan,” the army’s top spokesperson said in comments carried by the state broadcaster, adding that “the allegations of the interim Afghan government are baseless”.
His comments came hours after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed that Pakistani forces carried out airstrikes in the provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika. Mujahid said a civilian home in Khost was hit, resulting in the deaths of nine children and a woman.
Chaudhry insisted that Pakistan conducts all of its operations openly and does not target civilians. He added that Pakistan follows “clear principles” in its responses: “We are a state, and we respond only as a state.”
He further stated that Pakistan’s issue is with the “Taliban regime” and not with the Afghan people. Questioning the Taliban’s governance, he asked: “How long will this administration remain temporary? The Taliban should not act like a non-sate actor.” The Pakistani military spokesperson emphasised that Islamabad does not distinguish between “good” and “bad” Taliban and makes no separation between terrorist groups.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban have escalated following the breakdown of talks between the two sides.
In his statement, Mujahid condemned the alleged Pakistani strikes as a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and contrary to internationally accepted norms.
He called the attack a “crime” based on false intelligence, saying it would only deepen the crisis and lead to “more embarrassment and failure” for Pakistan’s military establishment.
The Taliban, he added, strongly condemned the “violation” and will deliver an “appropriate responses at the right time.”
