Afghans will not forget this aggression: Taliban Foreign Minister Muttaqi warns Pakistan after airstrikes

Kabul, Dec 27 (Representative) Voicing anger over Pakistan’s cross-border air strikes on Afghan territory, Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday warned that Afghans will not forget aggression against their homeland. Referring to Pakistan’s deadly airstrikes on Paktika province on Tuesday night on camps of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that killed at least 46 people, including women and children, Muttaqi said that “countries that humiliate Afghanistan” should learn lessons from Britain, the Soviet Union, and NATO.Speaking at an event marking the 45th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Muttaqi urged Pakistan to “adopt a measured policy towards Afghanistan”. Muttaqi said: “We send this message to Pakistan’s officials: it is no achievement to martyr children. You martyred women and elders and destroyed homes. This is neither courage nor manliness. Even the people of Waziristan have become refugees because of you. “On Wednesday, Afghanistan formally lodged a protest against the airstrikes, while the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense warned that the attack will not go unanswered. The Taliban’s Ministry of Defense has said that the Pakistani airstrikes killed only “Waziristani refugees”. The Pakistani airstrikes on parts of Barmal district in Paktika province also destroyed several homes and buildings.The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stated that the airstrikes targeted four areas in Barmal district of Paktika.Meanwhile, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political Deputy Prime Minister, said that the Islamic Emirate does not allow armed groups to operate on its soil. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of Kabul University students, the Deputy PM said that “baseless accusations against Afghanistan not only yield no benefits but also worsen relations and provoke violence”. Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, shared Mawlawi Abdul Kabir’s remarks, stating: “He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate does not allow armed groups to operate in Afghanistan.

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir considered false accusations against Afghanistan a cause for deteriorating relations. “The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) in its reaction said it had received “credible reports” of dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children, in the airstrikes conducted by Pakistani forces in Paktika province. “This attack proved that Pakistan adheres to neither Islamic nor diplomatic principles. Witnesses confirm that in this attack, innocent and defenseless people, including a large number of women and children, were martyred,” Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoi, a political analyst, told TOLOnews. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that it had faced some incidents at border crossings with Afghanistan. However, Pakistan’s primary concerns remain terrorism threats, drought, and internal issues in Afghanistan, which continue to be part of the bilateral agenda.Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, stated: “We have had some incidents on the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan’s major concern on terror hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan remained high on our bilateral agenda. We remain engaged with Afghan authorities on all issues.” The Islamic Emirate’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Pakistan’s acting ambassador was summoned to the ministry in Kabul Wednesday over Pakistan’s airstrikes on Barmal district and other parts of Paktika province. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the acting ambassador was told that the protection of national sovereignty is a red line for the Islamic Emirate and that such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences.