Taliban enraged after Pakistan's airstrike, targeted many posts (Photo- Reuters)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The Taliban government of Afghanistan has launched a large-scale retaliation along the shared border with Pakistan (Durrani Line). Afghan military spokesman Wahidullah Mohammadi confirmed in a video message that Eastern Sector Border Forces had launched "heavy attacks" on Pakistani positions in response to Pakistani airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces.
Taliban national spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also posted on Twitter that large-scale offensive operations have been launched against Pakistani military bases and installations along the Durrani Line in response to Pakistani military provocations and violations.
This increase has happened after the recent deadly air strikes conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan. On February 22, the Pakistani Army attacked 7 camps and positions allegedly belonging to TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) and Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Paktika provinces in intelligence-based selective operations. Pakistan claimed that at least 70-80 terrorists were killed in these attacks.
However, the Afghan Taliban rejected the attacks as attacks on civilian areas and said dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children, were killed. The Afghan Defense Ministry and local sources confirmed at least 17–18 civilian deaths, including at a seminary and residential areas.
Pakistan described the attacks as a response to recent suicide bombings, including a Shia mosque in Islamabad, Bajaur and Banu, for which the TTP claimed responsibility. Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had said that operations against terrorist hideouts would continue, wherever they were.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of repeatedly violating the border, while Pakistan says that Afghanistan is harboring groups like TTP, which are carrying out attacks in Pakistan.
There has been no official confirmation of casualties from either side so far, and no immediate reaction from the Pakistani side. Experts believe that this tension could pose a serious threat to regional stability, especially when the two countries already have deep differences over the Durrani Line dispute and the TTP issue.