ISLAMABAD, October 12(HS): The ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan took a severe turn on Saturday night, as Afghan forces launched a sustained overnight attack, claiming to have pushed Pakistan onto the back foot. The Taliban government has asserted that its forces killed 58 Pakistani military personnel and captured 25 military outposts in the border region.
Amid the escalating tensions, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have appealed to both nations for de-escalation, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution.In a press conference on Sunday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, provided details of the overnight offensive, according to Tolo News.
He stated that the Islamic Emirate’s forces conducted retaliatory operations against the Pakistani army in several Afghan provinces along the Durand Line. Mujahid issued a warning that any violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty would be met with a response.
In an operation conducted last night, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others were injured, while 20 Pakistani security posts were destroyed, Mujahid claimed. He added that numerous weapons were also seized during the cross-border retaliatory campaigns. He acknowledged Afghan losses, stating that nine of their soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded during the attacks.
Mujahid also revealed that Pakistan had requested to send a delegation to Afghanistan, but the Islamic Emirate rejected the offer in response to Pakistani airstrikes on Thursday night.Commenting on the presence of ISIS-K in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Mujahid alleged that the group was defeated in Afghanistan and subsequently established bases there.
He accused Pakistan of setting up training centers for ISIS-K in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, claiming that trainees were being brought in via Karachi and Islamabad airports.
Our findings indicate that the attacks in Iran and Moscow were carried out from these centers, he alleged.In light of Afghanistan’s counter-offensive, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions and clashes in the border areas. Both countries have urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint and pursue a diplomatic path to maintain regional stability.
The recent escalation began on the night of October 9, when Pakistan launched airstrikes in Kabul, Khost, Jalalabad, and Paktika, targeting alleged hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The attacks were reportedly aimed at eliminating TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense condemned the strikes, describing them as a declaration of war.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
