Security Forces Prepared For Threats From Afghanistan, Says Pakistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said it is monitoring what it described as threatening statements by the Taliban.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said it is monitoring what it described as threatening statements by the Taliban.
Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told a news conference on Thursday that Islamabad was aware of threats emanating from Afghanistan and that Pakistani institutions were prepared to ensure security.
Andrabi said Pakistan had carried out strikes on militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan based on verified intelligence. He added that Islamabad’s objective was to end what he described as the freedom of militants to operate from Afghan territory, while maintaining that Pakistan did not wish to harm relations with the Afghan people.
Pakistan’s air force struck areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces on 22 February. Taliban officials said 18 civilians were killed in the strikes, while the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan confirmed 13 civilian deaths in Nangarhar.
Andrabi said the operation had been conducted with utmost caution to avoid civilian casualties.
Following the strikes, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of targeting civilians and said the group would respond at an appropriate time.
Some lower-level Taliban officials also issued threats. Abdul Hadi Himmat, head of the Taliban’s military court in the north-east zone, said that if authorised by the leadership, Taliban forces would be in the Pakistani cities of Peshawar and Quetta within two nights. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Taliban defence forces in Kunduz Province, he said defending the people and taking revenge was a religious obligation.
Andrabi described the Taliban officials’ remarks as misleading and said Afghanistan must prevent its territory from being used by militants against other countries. He stressed that Pakistan would act against militants in Afghanistan in line with its right to self-defence.
