Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has condemned reports of an alleged Pakistani drone strike in Nuristan, urging respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and adherence to international law. The incident, yet to be confirmed, risks further straining tense Afghanistan–Pakistan relations amid ongoing security disputes.
Representational Image. File Pic
Amid the rising geopolitical tensions across the globe, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a report that there has been a Pakistani airstrike in Nuristan Province in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan president has called for respect for Afghanistan's sovereignty and adherence to international law, the Khaama Press reported.
As per ANI, Karzai expressed concern over media reports of an alleged Pakistani drone strike in Nuristan. He urged Islamabad to respect Afghanistan's sovereignty and avoid violating international law. Taliban authorities have so far remained silent on the incident, according to Khaama Press.
Earlier, another news agency, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported, citing unnamed sources, that Pakistan carried out a drone strike in Nuristan. On August 14, Karzai referred to these media reports, stating he was deeply concerned about the alleged airstrike attributed to Pakistan.
As per ANI, the former Afghanistani president called on the Pakistani government to "respect Afghanistan's national sovereignty and, by refraining from violating international principles and norms, engage with Afghanistan through civilised relations and good neighbourliness," as cited by ANI.
Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that militants from Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) use Afghan territory to launch attacks against the country, an allegation Taliban authorities have consistently denied. Local media in Nuristan have also reported drone strikes in the province, though no details have been provided regarding casualties or intended targets.
The alleged assault has not yet been addressed by Pakistani officials. According to Tasnim News Agency, there was no verified information regarding the objective or potential damage. Khaama Press reported that the outlet conjectured that the assault may have targeted TTP positions in the province; however, this assertion has yet to be verified.
One of the media houses also noted that the incident, if confirmed, risks further straining already tense relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have been marked by recurring border and security disputes.
To fuel up the already burning fire, the tensions came days after Pakistan's army on Tuesday claimed to have killed 50 militants, including Baloch Liberation Army and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan members, in a four-day operation near the Afghanistan border, specifically in Balochistan province, reported Khaama Press.
According to the army, the operations mainly targeted militants in parts of Balochistan province where major mining projects are underway. Neither the Balochistan Liberation Army nor the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan issued a statement responding to the claims, and independent verification of the casualty figures remains unavailable for Khaama Press.
Considering that the tensions between Pakistan's security forces and the TTP have intensified in recent years, since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, things do not look to be normal anytime soon.
(With inputs from ANI)
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