PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) – Late Saturday, Afghan security forces launched an attack on Pakistani border posts, a move in response to what the Taliban government described as repeated violations of its territorial integrity and airspace. This escalating conflict highlights the deepening security tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Earlier that week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of carrying out bombings in Kabul, the capital, as well as in a market located in eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan has denied any involvement in these attacks, further aggravating the already strained relations.
In a statement released early Sunday, the Taliban government's Defense Ministry declared that Afghan forces had conducted “retaliatory and successful operations” along the border. The ministry emphasized that if there were further violations of Afghanistan's territorial integrity, the armed forces were fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders and would respond decisively.
Pakistan has accused Afghan authorities of providing refuge to members of the banned group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad maintains that the TTP is responsible for numerous deadly attacks within Pakistan. However, Afghanistan has denied these allegations, asserting that it does not permit its territory to be used for activities against other nations.
The tension escalated when Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the gunfire incident initiated by Afghanistan on Saturday night. He warned that Pakistan would deliver a “befitting reply like India,” referencing a previous crisis earlier in the year when India and Pakistan came dangerously close to war.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the increasing tensions along the border and the potential implications for regional security and stability. The Ministry urged both nations to engage in “dialogue, diplomacy, and restraint” to de-escalate the situation.
A senior Pakistani security official, speaking anonymously as he was not authorized to address the media, reported that Afghan forces had opened fire in several northwestern border regions, specifically mentioning the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the districts of Chitral, Bajaur, Mohmand, Angoor Adda, and Kurram. Pakistani troops reportedly responded with heavy weaponry near Tirah in Khyber district and across the border in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.
According to another unnamed Pakistani security official, at least one person was killed and another injured when a mortar shell fired from the Afghan side struck Tiri village in Kurram district.
The border between the two countries spans 2,611 kilometers (1,622 miles) and is recognized as the Durand Line, although Afghanistan has historically refused to acknowledge it.
In summary, the rising tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan present significant challenges for both nations, with ramifications for regional stability. The conflict highlights the ongoing security concerns and the importance of addressing the underlying issues through diplomatic channels.
