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The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has vowed to retaliate following the airstrike on Barmal, Paktika.
This comes amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly regarding the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Barmal district of Paktika province was struck by a series of Pakistani airstrikes that resulted in the death of at least 20 people, including women and children. The attacks took place on the night of December 24, and reportedly targeted seven villages, including Laman, where five members of a family were killed, local media reported.
Pakistani jets were responsible for the bombings, reports claimed citing local sources. The Murg Bazaar village in Barmal was destroyed. Security officials said that the airstrikes targeted multiple hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), dismantling a facility and killing several insurgents.
Pakistani security sources said several TTP hideouts were struck and dozens of militants were killed, while TTP sources said a camp of people displaced by Pakistan’s military operations in tribal areas was hit and many civilians were slain.
It was the second such attack on alleged hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban since March, when Pakistan said intelligence-based strikes took place in the border regions inside Afghanistan. The strikes came hours after Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, travelled to Kabul to discuss a range of issues, including how to enhance bilateral trade, and improve ties.
Taliban Vows To Retaliate
The Taliban’s Ministry of Defence has vowed to retaliate following the airstrike and said that defending their land and sovereignty is their legitimate right. In a statement, the Afghan Ministry of National Defence condemned the “brutal bombing” in Paktika province, saying it targeted civilians, mostly Waziristan refugees.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this barbaric act to be against all international principles and a clear aggression, and strongly condemns it,” it further said. “The Pakistani side should know that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem.”
“The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered, but rather considers the defense of its territory and territory to be its inalienable right,” the ministry added.
Pakistani officials have not officially confirmed the airstrikes which come amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly regarding the presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan. Pakistan has accused the TTP of using Afghan soil to launch terrorist attacks, a claim Kabul has denied.
What Is The TTP?
The TTP is an umbrella group of several militant outfits that is responsible for several deadly attacks in Pakistan. The group, which is believed to be close to al-Qaeda, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases, and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.
In January 2023, TTP militants killed at least 100 people with a huge explosion in a crowded mosque inside a highly secured police compound in Peshawar. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the group, with thousands of members operating from the neighbouring country.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained due to the TTP’s involvement in terrorist activities. Pakistan has urged the Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism. While Afghanistan promised to prevent TTP’s activities, the group has stepped up attacks on Pakistan in recent years.
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan