December 25th 2024.
In an unusual move, Pakistan launched airstrikes targeting several suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan on Tuesday. The strikes resulted in the dismantling of a training facility and the death of some insurgents, according to four security officials.
The airstrikes took place in a mountainous area in Paktika province, which shares a border with Pakistan. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, were not authorized to speak to the media on record. It is unclear how the strikes were carried out or if the jets crossed into Afghan airspace.
No official statement has been released by Pakistan's military, but this is the second known attack on alleged Pakistani Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan since March. Earlier this year, Pakistan claimed to have conducted intelligence-based strikes in the border regions inside Afghanistan.
The Afghan Defence Ministry quickly condemned the strikes, accusing Pakistan of targeting civilians, including women and children. They stated that the majority of the victims were refugees from the Waziristan region. The ministry declared the airstrikes a violation of international principles and a blatant act of aggression.
Local residents reported that at least eight people, including women and children, were killed in the Pakistani airstrikes. They fear the death toll may rise. The Afghan defence ministry also stated that the Pakistani government should understand that unilateral measures are not the solution to any problem.
The strikes occurred only hours after Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, visited Kabul to discuss bilateral trade and relations. Sadiq had also met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister of Afghanistan, to offer his condolences for the death of his uncle, Khalil Haqqani. Khalil was the minister for refugees and repatriation and was killed in a suicide bombing claimed by a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group.
In a statement on X platform, Sadiq said he also met with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and had wide-ranging discussions. They agreed to work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote peace and progress in the region.
On the same day, a delegation from the pro-Taliban Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam also visited Kabul to offer condolences for Khalil Haqqani's death. Pakistan often accuses the Pakistani Taliban of launching attacks from Afghan soil, a claim that Kabul denies.
Security expert Syed Muhammad Ali believes that the airstrikes were a warning to the Pakistani Taliban that Pakistan will use all available means to combat the terrorist group. He also stated that Pakistan took precautions to ensure that only terrorist bases were targeted and no civilians were harmed.
The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has become more active since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan in 2021. The group's leaders and fighters are believed to be hiding in Afghanistan. In recent months, the TTP has carried out attacks on Pakistani soldiers and police, ending a ceasefire with the government in November 2022 after failed peace talks in Kabul.
The TTP's increased activity has raised concerns about the security situation in the region. However, Pakistan's actions show a determination to combat terrorism and protect its citizens. The international community will continue to monitor the situation closely and support efforts for peace and stability in the region.
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