Afghanistan’s Taliban government spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid accuses Pakistan’s military of aiming to destabilize the region. He claims Pakistan uses the war on terror as a cover to target civilians in Afghanistan due to its own failures.
Mujahid warns Pakistan against attacking Afghan soil, threatening a military response.
He said, “Afghanistan didn’t start the war. If any country wants to mediate, we have no issue on our terms. It’s Pakistan that’s fuelling instability in the region and hasn’t been willing to resolve issues through talks.”
In response to the question, Mr. Mujahid said, “Islamabad’s claim isn’t true. We’ve assured them in all meetings that Afghan soil won’t be used against anyone. It’s not our responsibility to prevent attacks in Pakistan.”
The Taliban government’s spokesperson claimed the ongoing conflict isn’t about Pakistan or its instability, but rather, in his words, “They’ve taken on a mission to destabilize the region. Given this, it’s natural we’ll respond and defend our territory strongly.”
The Pakistan government and military say they will continue strikes in Afghanistan until the Taliban government stops supporting militant groups like TTP, BLF, IS-K, and Al-Qaeda.
The Taliban government strongly denies that any foreign militant groups are present in Afghanistan or that Afghan soil is being used against any country.
The WFP says it has begun providing aid to displaced families affected by Pakistan’s strikes in Afghanistan, rapidly initiating emergency assistance for those impacted by the conflict with Pakistan.
The WFP states in a statement that essential life-saving assistance is being provided to 20,000 families displaced by the conflict. It adds that vulnerable families will receive food or cash assistance for two months.
The statement says the WFP has begun operations in border areas despite challenging conditions. WFP adds that besides displaced people, aid is being provided in 8 provinces, starting with Nuristan, Kunar, and Nangarhar in the east, and extending to Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Zabul, and Kandahar.
Tens of thousands of families have been displaced due to the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict since October last year. WFP’s Afghanistan head, John Cliff, says Afghan families were already struggling with unemployment, earthquakes, and now another conflict.
He adds that with the Iran conflict, Afghans are dealing with two wars, and if instability spreads, it will push millions more Afghans into hunger.
In Washington, D.C., Afghan protesters gathered to condemn Pakistan’s recent strikes on Afghanistan, calling for them to stop. They described the civilian casualties, including children, as a violation of international law and urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable.
Apart from the US, Afghans have protested Pakistan’s airstrikes in various countries. The strikes have reportedly killed dozens of civilians. Pakistan claims it targeted TTP militants and their supporters.
Taliban government officials in Kunar told, Pakistani forces shelled a high school in Dangam with artillery.
Afghanistan’s national TV reports that Pakistan’s military shelled a high school in Kunar’s Dangam district, damaging the building and injuring a guard, citing local officials.
Earlier, Kunar’s information and culture department head, Ziaurrahman Spinghar, stated that Pakistani forces had fired over 270 mortar and artillery shells at districts near the Durand Line in the past 48 hours. Now, national TV reports officials saying three civilians were injured, two houses were destroyed, and the school building was damaged in the shelling.
Afghanistan’s UN mission acting head, Nasir Ahmad Faiq, condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Kabul and several provinces. On X, he wrote, “Killing innocent civilians, including women and children, is a war crime,” referencing UNAMA’s statement on civilian casualties in Kabul.
He called on the international community to hold Pakistan accountable and stop the strikes. UNAMA stated yesterday that four civilians were killed and 14 injured in Pakistan’s airstrike in Kabul.
By- Laiba Yousafzai
