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Four killed as Pakistan strikes Afghanistan again (Img: IANS)
Four civilians killed and several injured in fresh airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces on Thursday.
Informing the strikes conducted by Pakistan, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned of a befitting response.
The latest strikes have further escalated tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, coming only days after Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces that reportedly killed three people.
Mujahid condemned what he described as "indiscriminate and cowardly" attacks, calling them a violation of established principles and an act of "aggression and crime". He also warned that the Taliban government would respond to the latest military action.
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan assures the people that these shameless acts of aggression and attacks by the Pakistani military regime will be met with an appropriate response through a decisive stance. In an apparent attempt to justify such brazen aggression and oppression, Pakistani military circles spread a claim yesterday that drones had allegedly crossed into their territory from Afghanistan," the Taliban spokesperson stated.
"Likewise, they once again launched an aerial attack on Afghan territory, apparently in an attempt to justify their inability to deal with their internal problems," he added.
Mujahid further warned that such "reckless, careless, and hostile actions" would fuel anger among Afghans and could have adverse consequences for Pakistan's military leadership.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai also criticised Pakistan's continued military action against Afghanistan following the latest strikes.
Karzai warned that Islamabad's policy could increasingly have consequences within Pakistan itself and called for a change in relations between the two neighbouring countries.
"Pakistan once again carried out bombings in Kandahar, Khost, and Paktia of our dear homeland. It seems that Islamabad does not intend to abandon its continuation of that negative policy, the fire of which has now reached its own doorstep as well. Pakistan must realise that Afghans as a whole, without any discrimination, stand united and resolute against these aggressions of Pakistan," Karzai posted on X.
"Once again, I call upon the government of Pakistan to choose the path of good neighbourliness with Afghanistan and to civilise its relations with us," he added.
The latest strikes come just days after Pakistan conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan's Kunar and Paktika provinces. Those attacks reportedly killed three people.
Mujahid had condemned the September 21 strikes, alleging that Pakistan had targeted Afghan territory and civilians. At the time, he also warned that Afghanistan would deliver an "appropriate response".
The repeated cross-border strikes have added to already strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, with both sides trading accusations over security threats and militant activity along their shared border.
