Karzai and Abdullah Condemn Pakistani Airstrikes as Violation of Afghan Sovereignty

Former President Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the former head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, have strongly condemned the Pakistani military airstrikes in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar in separate statements. They characterized these actions as a blatant violation of national sovereignty, incompatible with international standards, and a factor exacerbating the crisis and tensions in the region.

In the Wake of Deadly Airstrikes

In response to the deadly airstrikes carried out by the Pakistani military in parts of the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the former head of the National Reconciliation Council, issued firm statements condemning these attacks as a clear violation of all international laws and the geopolitical sovereignty of Afghanistan. Their strong reactions came following reports detailing the deaths and injuries of dozens of civilians in these bombardments.

Karzai: Pakistan Must End Aggressive Policies

In a post on social media platform X, Hamid Karzai expressed outrage over the targeting of residential areas by Pakistani fighter jets, deeming such actions contrary to the principles of peaceful coexistence. He accused the security and political apparatus of Islamabad of perpetuating “aggressive policies and a dual approach to the phenomenon of extremism,” emphasizing that Pakistani officials must understand that maintaining these approaches offers no benefits for regional security and that they are obligated to interact with Afghanistan based on principles of neighborly conduct, mutual respect, and civilized relations.

Abdullah: Hostile Actions Do Not Resolve Security Issues

Simultaneously, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, in a similar reaction on his X page, vehemently condemned the airstrikes while expressing condolences to the families of civilian victims. He noted that resorting to cross-border military solutions and engaging in “hostile actions” would not resolve any of the existing security challenges between the two countries; rather, it would complicate the situation further and escalate tensions on both sides of the border. These strong positions come amid reports from Kabul stating civilian casualties at 36 dead and 163 injured, while Islamabad continues to claim that 29 armed militants were targeted and neutralized in these cross-border operations.