Sixth Day Of Taliban-Pakistan Fighting Marked by Airstrikes, Casualty Claims
Clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan entered a sixth day on Tuesday, in what has become the most intense direct confrontation between the two sides in recent years.
Clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan entered a sixth day on Tuesday, in what has become the most intense direct confrontation between the two sides in recent years.
The fighting began after what the Taliban described as retaliatory cross-border attacks and has since escalated despite several countries signalling readiness to mediate. So far, however, there is no clear prospect of negotiations or a political settlement.
Pakistan has named its military campaign against the Taliban “Ghazab-lil-Haq,” while the Taliban has referred to its attacks on Pakistani forces as “Rad-ul-Zulm.”
Residents told Afghanistan International that on Tuesday aircraft were heard overhead, along with explosions and ground-to-air fire, in Panjshir, Kabul, Badakhshan, Kunar and Kapisa provinces.
Pakistani officials said their forces had killed at least 464 Taliban fighters and wounded 665 others. Pakistan’s information minister also said 188 Taliban posts had been destroyed, 31 seized and 192 tanks and armoured vehicles destroyed.
The Taliban, meanwhile, said its forces had captured 10 Pakistani posts and destroyed one tank in recent days, killing more than 150 Pakistani soldiers and wounding 200 others. The group confirmed the deaths of 28 of its fighters and said 42 had been wounded. It also claimed to have shot down five Pakistani drones.
The Taliban accused Pakistan of targeting civilians and deliberately destroying homes, mosques, schools and clinics. The group called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to condemn the attacks.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that at least 42 civilians, including women and children, had been killed and 104 wounded in Afghanistan during five days of fighting. About 16,000 families have been displaced, and attacks have damaged humanitarian facilities, including an emergency hospital and the Torkham transit centre. The World Food Programme has also suspended operations in affected areas.
Pakistan rejected UNAMA’s report, saying it relied on figures provided by the Taliban.
Security sources in Pakistan said a prominent Taliban commander was killed in Landi Kotal while attempting to cross the border.
The Taliban described Pakistan as the initiator of the war and said its response would continue as long as Pakistani attacks persist.
A Taliban deputy spokesperson called on the international community to condemn Pakistan’s strikes and warned that if the attacks continued, Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul could be closed.
Meanwhile, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Erdogan called for a ceasefire but did not condemn Pakistan’s attacks.
