The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan threatens retaliation after confirming 46 people were killed in a Pakistan army air strike, escalating tensions between the two Muslim-majority nations.
Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), confirmed that Pakistani jets bombed four locations in Paktika’s Barmal district on Tuesday night, killing 46 people and injuring six, besides destroying houses, the state-run Bakhtar news agency reported.
According to the IEA, this is Pakistan’s second airstrike on Afghanistan, the first being in March, which was formally protested against.
Islamabad has yet to respond to the claims made by Kabul. However, local media speculate that Pakistan’s army may have been targeting camps belonging to the outlawed militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The TTP has carried out deadly attacks on Pakistani security forces, mainly in border regions, in recent months.
Although the group is sometimes referred to as the Pakistan Taliban, the group has no connection to the Taliban which fought against the illegal U.S. occupation and eventually set up the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
In response to the attack, the IAE Foreign Ministry delivered a “letter of strong protest” to Pakistani diplomat Hafiz Zia Ahmad, a spokesperson for the ministry confirmed.The bombing, according to the statement, was carried out when Pakistan’s special representative for the IEA was meeting with IEA officials in Kabul on Tuesday.
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Afghanistan, which has a long history of defending itself against major powers, strongly rejects any violation of territorial integrity and is firmly committed to defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the statement.
Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry, issued a strongly worded condemnation via X.
“A number of children and other civilians were martyred and injured. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this barbaric act to be against all international principles and a clear aggression, and strongly condemns it. The Pakistani side should know that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem.”
He added a warning of retaliation should similar actions by Pakistan be taken in the future.
“The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defence of its territory and the territory itself to be its inalienable right.”
The attack which killed 46 Afghans came just hours after Pakistan’s special representative for the IEA, Mohammad Sadi, met IEA Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.
“Met Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi today. Held wide-ranging discussions. Agreed to work together to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote peace and progress in the region.” Sadiq posted on X.
The bombing would have certainly changed the mood as Sadiq’s visit to Kabul, which also included a meeting with Afghan interim Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Monday, took place amid deteriorating relations between the two neighbours, and ties are likely to sink further following the Tuesday night attacks.
Relentless TTP attacks
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is an insurgent group based in Pakistan. The TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, is distinct from the Afghan Taliban.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was formed in December 2007 as a result of several Pakistani Taliban factions coming together to create a unified organisation. The group’s main objective is to establish its own version of Shari’ah law in Pakistan and to challenge the Pakistani government’s authority.
They have been responsible for numerous attacks on military and civilian targets within Pakistan, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries.
Since 2007, Islamabad and the TTP have held several rounds of dialogue that yielded no results, with both sides blaming each other for the stalemate.
Successive Pakistani military operations since 2014 pushed the TTP toward Afghanistan, bringing about a significant decline in bombings and suicide attacks in the country until 2021.
Last week, TTP fighters claimed responsibility for killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers in South Waziristan in one of the deadliest recent attacks on security personnel.
While the IEA denies providing refuge to armed groups or allowing their territory to be used for cross-border attacks, Pakistan asserts that the TTP conducts its operations from Afghan sanctuaries.
The TTP is considered a terrorist organisation in Pakistan and also the UK as well.
