The overnight airstrikes by Pakistani fighter jets on the Barmal district of Paktika province have triggered a strong response from the Taliban. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense condemned the attack, calling it a “blatant violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty” and warning that “this action will not go unanswered.” The ministry stated, “Pakistan’s unilateral actions will not solve the problem but will have serious consequences.”
Pakistani media, citing sources close to the military, reported that the airstrikes targeted border hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Recently, the TTP has intensified attacks on Pakistani security forces, prompting Islamabad to accuse the Afghan Taliban of failing to cooperate in curbing these assaults.
Taliban Ministry of Defense spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarazmi rejected Pakistan’s claims, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the victims of these strikes were “civilians, particularly Waziristani refugees.” He did not provide exact casualty figures but confirmed that “a number of children and other non-combatants were martyred and injured.”
The Afghan Taliban regard Waziristani refugees as individuals from Pakistan’s tribal areas who fled to Afghanistan due to Pakistani military operations. However, the Pakistani government asserts that these refugees include dozens of TTP commanders and fighters residing in Afghan border regions under the protection of the Taliban.
With escalating tensions between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan, the future of relations between these historically complex and sensitive neighbors remains uncertain. The recent developments highlight that the disputes go beyond border security and extend to differing approaches in managing regional crises.
