The tension on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has once again reached its peak. On Friday, it was agreed between the two countries to extend the 48-hour ceasefire with mutual consent. Hours later, the Taliban accused Pakistan of carrying out an air strike in Afghanistan’s Paktika province. According to the Taliban, Pakistan carried out air strikes in several districts of Paktika province adjacent to the Durand Line.
This action has taken place at a time when preparations are going on for peace talks in Doha to calm the ongoing border standoff between the two sides. Tolonews quoted sources as saying that Pakistan Air strikes took place on many houses in Argun and Barmal districts of Afghanistan located on the border. No casualties have been confirmed yet in these attacks. Meanwhile, three Pakistani security officials and an Afghan Taliban source told news agency Reuters on condition of anonymity that a Pakistani delegation has already reached the Qatari capital for the Doha peace talks, while the Afghan delegation is expected to reach Doha on Saturday.
Also read: ‘The ball is now in Afghanistan’s court, we have two conditions…’, said Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif
Taliban claimed death of 58 PAK soldiers
Pakistan and afghanistan A temporary ceasefire was established for the first time on October 15 in the fierce fighting that has been going on for several days on the border between the security forces of India, in which dozens of soldiers from both sides were killed and hundreds were injured. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid had claimed that a 48-hour ceasefire was declared on the request of the Pakistani Army. Both sides accused each other of provocation. Pakistan claimed to have killed 20 Taliban fighters in border firing, while the Taliban claimed to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers and captured some Pakistani posts.
Seven Pakistani soldiers killed in suicide attack
Earlier, Pakistani security officials said that 7 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 13 others were injured in a suicide attack on a military camp in North Waziristan on Friday. This attack happened just hours before the peace talks between Islamabad and Kabul to be held in Doha. According to officials, one terrorist drove a vehicle laden with explosives into the boundary wall of the Khaddi military camp in Mir Ali and two other attackers tried to storm the camp but were killed. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that its suicide unit Khalid bin Waleed and Tehreek Taliban Gulbahadr carried out the attacks.
Shahbaz Sharif had extended his hand for peace
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had said a day earlier that he was ready for talks with Taliban. He had said that he wants a peaceful resolution of the conflict on fair terms and the ball is now in Afghanistan’s court. According to Geo News report, Shehbaz Sharif made this comment during his address at the federal cabinet meeting on Thursday. He clarified that it is for the Taliban to decide whether they want a permanent ceasefire or not. However, during the meeting, Sharif reiterated the words of his Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, in which he claimed that the recent attack on Pakistan was carried out by the Taliban regime at the behest of India.
Situation on the border deteriorated after Pakistani strike
Without presenting any evidence to support his allegations, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that the attack took place when Amir Khan Muttaki, the Foreign Minister of the Taliban government in power in Afghanistan, was on a visit to India. Interestingly, tensions between the two countries increased when Pakistan carried out two air strikes in Kabul, after which the Taliban took so-called ‘retaliatory action’. Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan is giving shelter to TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) terrorists. Whereas Taliban rejects this claim of Pakistan. After Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 2021, its relations with Pakistan have gone to a very low level.
—- End —-
