Taliban Vows Retaliation Against Pakistani Airstrikes After Civilian Casualties

Taliban officials have warned that they will respond to airstrikes conducted by Pakistan in Kunar and Paktika provinces. The recent attacks resulted in the deaths of three civilians and left several others injured.

Taliban: We Will Stand Against Pakistani Aggression as We Did with the U.S.

Officials from the Taliban’s interim government have reacted strongly to the recent airstrikes by the Pakistani military in Kunar and Paktika, stating that they will not remain silent in the face of any violations of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Hayatullah Mahajer Farahi, the deputy minister of information and culture, condemned the strikes carried out by Pakistani aircraft and declared that, just as they stood firm against the twenty-year conflict with the United States, they would also resist any form of foreign aggression.

This Taliban official accused Islamabad of creating security challenges and obstructing the reconstruction of Afghanistan, emphasizing that Pakistan should refrain from escalating tensions along its borders instead of trying to escape its own internal issues. He also noted that these bombings will not go unanswered.

Details of the Bombing and Its Victims

Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Taliban government, referred to the recent aerial bombardment by Pakistani forces as a “blatant crime” and announced that preparations for a proportionate response are underway. In this context, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that the bombing on Monday morning by Pakistani fighter jets in Kunar province resulted in the deaths of at least three civilians, including a man, a woman, and a child, with four others injured.

These comments come against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly regarding violations of sovereignty and border security. Taliban officials have warned that they will act responsibly in response to any threatening actions from Islamabad and are serious about the reactions of their forces.