Pakistan carried out airstrike on Afghanistan. Image:Republic
The border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan is now taking the form of war. After the attack by Afghan soldiers, Pakistani army has also retaliated. Pakistan carried out airstrikes overnight in Kandahar and Paktia provinces, including the Afghan capital Kabul, while the Afghan Taliban launched large-scale attacks on Pakistani border posts. Both sides are claiming to have caused huge losses to each other. Taliban has confirmed this airstrike, but has not given information about casualties.
Tension on the Durand Line, the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has now turned into open conflict. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry has said that in response to repeated firing and attacks by the Pakistani Army, the Afghan Army has now launched a large-scale retaliation and captured 15 Pakistani posts. At the same time, in response to this, Pakistan carried out air strikes on many cities including Kabul-Kandahar late in the night. Pak Army has claimed that Afghanistan has suffered huge losses in this airstrike.
Pakistan carried out airstrike on Afghanistan
Pakistani Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said that Pakistan launched Operation ‘Gazab Lil Haq’ in response to the unprovoked attack by the Afghan Taliban. Under this operation, Taliban military bases in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar were targeted. Pakistan claims that in these attacks, 133 Taliban operatives were killed, more than 200 were injured, 27 posts were destroyed and 9 posts were captured.
Afghanistan had destroyed Pakistan’s posts
Earlier on Thursday night, Afghanistan had attacked the Pakistani border, which the Taliban said was a reply to Pakistan’s previous airstrike (in Nangarhar and Paktika on February 22). The Afghan side claimed that dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed in this attack and several posts were captured. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid described the Pakistani airstrike as cowardly and said the attacks took place in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, although he did not give any number of casualties and said retaliation was underway.
Message from the President of Pakistan
At the same time, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has clearly said that Pakistan will not compromise on peace and unity of the region. Our army’s response is complete and decisive. “Those who mistake our peace for weakness will receive a strong response and no one will be out of our reach.”
What did Taliban say on the airstrike?
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistan’s airstrike and said that airstrikes took place in Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, in which there were no casualties. Mujahid accused Pakistan of cowardly targeting Afghan areas and vowed revenge. “The cowardly Pakistani army has carried out airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar and some areas of Paktia; the good thing is that no casualties have been reported,” he said in a post on
Let us tell you that the Durand Line, which is the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been disputed for a long time. Afghanistan does not formally recognize this line, while Pakistan considers it an international border. Questions are now being raised on the agreement brokered by Qatar. The international community has appealed to both sides to exercise restraint and dialogue, but at present firing and airstrikes continue on the border.
Also read: Afghanistan’s strong counterattack on Pakistan, Afghan army created havoc, captured 15 posts of Pakistan on Durand Line