KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – Afghanistan said Sunday it has killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in a nighttime border operation in response to repeated violations of its territory and airspace. Pakistan’s military announced a much lower casualty count, saying 23 soldiers were killed.
Earlier this week, Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of bombing charges. capital Kabuland markets in the eastern part of the country. Pakistan has not claimed responsibility for the assault.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, said Afghan forces had captured 25 Pakistani military positions and wounded 30 Pakistani soldiers.
“The situation on all official and de facto borders of Afghanistan is completely under control and illegal activities have been largely stopped,” President Mujahid said at a press conference in Kabul.
Pakistan used to location of attack In Afghanistan, suspected militant hideouts are being targeted, but these are located in remote mountainous areas. Both, had a skirmish Along the old border. Saturday night’s violent clashes highlight deepening tensions.
The Taliban government’s Ministry of Defense announced early Sunday that Taliban forces had carried out a “retaliatory and successful operation” along the border.
The ministry added: “If the hostile side again violates Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, our forces are fully prepared to protect our borders and will respond forcefully.”
of talkum The crossing, one of the two main trade routes between the two countries, did not open at its usual 8 a.m. time on Sunday.
An intersection in Chaman, southwestern Pakistan, was also closed. people, Including Afghan refugees leaving Pakistanwas refused on the grounds of deteriorating security.
An Associated Press reporter in Chaman heard the sound of a jet over Supin Boldak, a city in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province, and saw smoke billowing up after the explosion.
Regional powers seek peace
Pakistan accuses Afghan authorities of harboring members of banned group Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban. Islamabad claims the group carries out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, but Kabul denies the charges, saying it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries.
Pakistan is grappling with a burgeoning number of insurgents, particularly in areas bordering Afghanistan. He also accused India, its nuclear-armed neighbor and rival, of supporting armed groups, without providing any evidence.
Overnight border clashes between India and Pakistan could fuel instability in the region. close to war Earlier this year, a massacre of tourists occurred in the disputed region of Kashmir.
India has also recently strengthened ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers. Announcement of upgrade Reported to all embassies on technical mission in Kabul.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry called for “restraint and avoidance of escalation, and the adoption of dialogue and wisdom to de-escalate tensions and maintain regional security and stability.” Saudi Arabia is just mutual defense agreement Same with Pakistan. Qatar also called for restraint.
Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan al-Muttaqi, who is in India on an official visit, told reporters that Afghanistan would respect calls from the two Gulf countries to end his “retaliatory attacks” against Pakistan. But he also warned that Kabul reserves the right to defend itself.
“We hope for a peaceful resolution of the situation, but there are other options if peace efforts are not successful,” Muttaki said.
Pakistan condemns attack
Ahead of Afghanistan’s announcement of casualties, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying his army “not only responded befittingly to Afghanistan’s provocation, but also destroyed several strongholds and forced a retreat.”
Pakistani security officials shared videos purporting to show destroyed Afghan checkpoints, but the footage could not be independently verified because the media does not have access to those areas.
Pakistan’s military announced that “More than 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists have been neutralized, but many more are injured.”
Afghan forces opened fire at several locations in the northwestern border area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani security officials said.
An official in Islamabad told The Associated Press that Pakistan had taken control of 19 border crossings in Afghanistan where attacks had been launched. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
“Taliban personnel in these posts have been killed or fled. Fires and visible destruction have been observed in the occupied Afghan posts,” the official added.
The two countries share a 2,611-kilometre (1,622-mile) border, known as the Border Border. duland linebut Afghanistan has never acknowledged it.
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Associated Press writers Sajjad Tarakzai in Islamabad, Abdul Kahal Afghan in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, John Gambrell in Cairo and Rajesh Roy in New Delhi contributed to this report.
