Afghan forces carried out retaliatory operations on Pakistani military posts along the Durand Line, claiming 58 Pakistani soldiers killed and 30 injured. Nine Afghan soldiers died, and the operations were halted following requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia
Afghan refugees wait for opening of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border crossing point, on Sunday. PIC/AP/PTI
Pakistan seized 19 Afghan military posts and “terrorist hideouts” in response to what it termed “unprovoked” attacks by Afghan forces in the border areas, security sources said on Sunday, while Kabul claimed that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and 30 others injured during the retaliatory operations.
The Taliban-led government’s Defence Ministry confirmed the attacks early Sunday, saying that its forces had conducted “retaliatory and successful operations”. “If the opposing side again violates Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend the nation’s borders and will deliver a strong response,” the ministry said.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s chief spokesman, said that 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and around 30 others wounded during the operations Saturday night. Mujahid added that during the retaliatory operations across the Durand Line, 20 Pakistani security outposts were destroyed, and numerous weapons and military equipment were seized.
He said that nine Afghan soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded in the operations. The spokesperson said that the operation was halted following requests from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the Taliban attacks on border posts “unprovoked”, accusing them of firing at civilians.
On Thursday night, explosions were reported from the Afghan capital. Kabul blamed Islamabad for the attacks, but the Pakistani army refused to confirm or deny its involvement. Apparently prompted by the Kabul strikes, the Afghan security forces targeted attacks against Pakistan on Saturday night. Pakistan launched its retaliatory response early on Sunday.
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