ISLAMABAD:
Unprovoked firing by Afghan forces along the Pakistan-Afghan border provoked a forceful response from the Pakistani army, leading to the deaths of several Afghan soldiers and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists.
According to security sources, Afghan forces opened unprovoked firing at several locations along the border on Saturday evening, including in Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir and Chitral areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Zhob district of Balochistan province.
The firing, they added, was aimed at facilitating the cross-border movement of formations of “Khawarij” — agents of the TTP. The Pakistani army’s “alert and vigilance” posts responded quickly and forcefully, and the exchange of fire continued until the report was filed.
Security sources said the Pakistani army immediately carried out an effective retaliatory strike, targeting several Afghan positions. Pakistan’s “timely and precise action” destroyed several Afghan border posts and left dozens of Afghan soldiers and Khawarij militants dead.
According to security officials, several Taliban fled their positions, leaving bodies scattered in the area. They said the aggression from the Afghan side comes at a time when Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is on an official visit to India.
Pakistan is also skillfully targeting Khawarij and ISIS terror camps and hideouts located near the Afghan border. Afghan forces are reported to have withdrawn from several areas, while Pakistan’s effective and intense counter-offensive continues, officials said.
Violent clashes broke out Saturday evening between Afghan and Pakistani security forces on the shared border after Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying out airstrikes on the capital, officials on both sides said.
“In retaliation for airstrikes by Pakistani forces,” Taliban border forces in the east “engaged in violent clashes against Pakistani force posts in various border areas,” the Afghan army said in a statement.
The Afghan Taliban government on Friday accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes on its territory and warned of “consequences”. Islamabad said its patience with Kabul was running out, without acknowledging or denying carrying out airstrikes.
At a press conference on Friday, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, “took note” of the reports of the strikes. “To protect the lives of the people of Pakistan, we are doing and will continue to do whatever is necessary. Our demand to Afghanistan: your soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he added.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to expel terrorists using Afghan territory to launch attacks against Pakistan, a charge that authorities in Kabul deny. The TTP and its affiliates are behind most of the violence in Pakistan – much of it directed at security forces.
Including Friday’s attacks, at least 32 Pakistani soldiers and three civilians have been killed this week alone in border areas, while dozens of militants have also been killed.
More than 500 people, including 311 soldiers and 73 policemen, were killed in attacks between January and September 15, the ISPR chief said on Friday.
Earlier this year, a UN report said the TTP was “receiving substantial logistical and operational support from the de facto authorities”, referring to the Taliban government in Kabul.
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told parliament on Thursday that several efforts to convince the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting the TTP had failed.
“We will no longer tolerate this,” Asif said. “United, we must respond to those who facilitate them, whether the hiding places are on our soil or on Afghan soil.”
He warned that any response could result in collateral damage. “Everyone will have to bear the consequences, including those who provide the hiding places,” he said. “Enough is enough,” he added. “The patience of the Pakistani government and army is running out.”
COURTESY OF AFP
