The unprovoked aggression by Afghan Taliban forces at the Pak-Afghan border is a matter of grave concern for every Pakistani who yearns for peaceful and friendly relations between the two brotherly nations. According to security sources, the recent exchange of fire occurred in the Pul-e-Sin area, where Afghan Taliban forces launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani border posts. The swift and strong response from the Pakistan Army resulted in the death of eight Afghan Taliban fighters, including two key commanders, Khaleel and Jan Mohammad, while sixteen others were reported injured. The attack, which took place on a Saturday morning, involved heavy weaponry, forcing Pakistan’s military to retaliate with full force, inflicting significant losses on the Taliban. Fortunately, no casualties were reported on the Pakistani side. Despite this confrontation, the need for cordial relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains crucial for both nations.
Following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan three years ago and the establishment of the Taliban government, it was hoped that the two nations, bound by shared faith, history, and geography, would forge exemplary ties. Unfortunately, such expectations have not been realized, largely due to the ongoing terrorist activities by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates from Afghan soil. Although the Afghan government has denied involvement, it remains accountable for these unprovoked actions by the Taliban. In a recent interview, Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid expressed a desire for fraternal relations with Pakistan, which indeed aligns with the interests of both countries. However, for such aspirations to materialize, immediate diplomatic dialogue is imperative to resolve rising tensions and prevent further hostilities. It is a tragic reality that since the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the country’s territory has been consistently used against Pakistan.
From 2001 to 2021, India exploited Afghan soil by supporting terrorist groups to target Pakistan. Following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021 and the establishment of an interim Taliban government, Pakistan hoped that the Taliban leadership would recognize that many of its members had found refuge in Pakistan during their years of displacement. Unfortunately, this expectation has not been met. Instead, terrorist groups based in Afghanistan continue to launch attacks within Pakistan, and the Taliban itself has escalated its aggressive actions along the border. The most recent of these incidents occurred on the morning of September 7, when Afghan Taliban forces launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani border posts near Pul-e-Sin using heavy weaponry. The Pakistan Army’s robust retaliation resulted in the deaths of eight Taliban fighters, including the commanders Khaleel and Jan Mohammad, while sixteen others were injured.
This incident underscores a disturbing trend of increasing aggression at the international border. The Pakistan Army has made it clear in previous encounters that any such aggression will be met with a firm response, leaving no room for misadventure. Alongside these unprovoked attacks, terrorist groups, seemingly emboldened by the Taliban, continue to operate from Afghan territory, carrying out sabotage operations in Pakistan’s border regions, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Hardly a day passes without a report of some terrorist act in these regions, with most of the perpetrators believed to be operating from Afghan soil. In a similar incident on Monday, a bomb attack in the Wana subdivision of South Waziristan targeted a vehicle carrying tribal leader Malik Jameel Wazir, resulting in the death of his son and injuries to three others, including the leader himself. The police reported that a bomb had been planted by unknown individuals along the roadside near Karikot Bazaar.
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