Pakistan Wants Recognition Of Durand Line, Says Taliban Defence Minister

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, cited recent Pakistani strikes in several Afghan provinces, the expulsion and alleged mistreatment of Afghan migrants in Pakistan, and civilian casualties. He said the Security Council should fulfil its responsibility to help end the situation.

In a statement Saturday, Mujahid described Pakistan’s actions as “inhumane” and said many civilians had been killed and displaced as a result of the attacks.

He also said Afghan migrants in Pakistan were facing difficult conditions.

Mujahid urged the Security Council to pressure Pakistan to stop what he called “such inhumane actions and violations of human rights”.

Mujahid has previously criticised the Security Council, saying it had lost its credibility and become, in his words, “a tool in the hands of Western countries”.

The UN Security Council has repeatedly expressed concern about the activities and presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

According to the Taliban, the strikes targeted the eastern provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Maidan Wardak and Kunar, damaging civilian areas and destroying homes and shops.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban, said in a statement Saturday that Pakistani forces targeted residential homes and local markets in the districts of Samkani and Dand-e-Patan in Paktia province.

He said one person was killed and another wounded in the attacks. Fitrat added that 10 homes, 14 shops, two markets and a mosque were destroyed.

Fitrat also said villages and markets in the districts of Barmal and Shkin in Paktika province were damaged in Pakistani airstrikes. He said two civilians were killed and six homes and several shops were destroyed.

The Taliban deputy spokesperson also reported attacks in Khost province, saying one person was killed and two others injured in the districts of Ali Sher and Terezai. He said the strikes destroyed 10 homes and a mosque and displaced more than 100 families.

Fitrat said the Zazi Maidan district in Paktia province was also targeted, but no casualties were reported.

He added that about 60 mortar rounds were fired in Nari district in Kunar province. No one was killed or injured, but the Duyali dam in the centre of Dukalam village was damaged.

The Taliban did not report any casualties among their forces. Pakistan’s military, however, has said more than 500 Taliban fighters have been killed and that its operation, known as “Ghazab-ul-Haq,” against the group is continuing.

Tom Fletcher, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said Friday during a news conference that many of the victims were women and children and that some civilian infrastructure had also been damaged.

Fletcher said civilian infrastructure, including a hospital at the International Organization for Migration’s transit centre and facilities at a returnee reception centre in Torkham border crossing, had been damaged.

He added that displacement was rising rapidly as the fighting continued. More than 16,000 families have fled their homes, adding to the millions already displaced across Afghanistan.

The UN official also said the closure of border crossings has left more than 168 containers stranded, while the suspension of flights and security restrictions have made it more difficult for the United Nations to reach people in need.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the two officials discussed regional developments, including what it described as the “negative and destabilising consequences of the attack on Iran”.

According to the ministry, Lavrov and Muttaqi also discussed prospects for reducing military and political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Lavrov stressed the importance of resolving differences between Kabul and Islamabad through political and diplomatic means.

Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani forces have targeted a total of 62 locations across Afghanistan during the fighting.

Speaking on the 11th day of the conflict with the Taliban, Tarar said 237 Taliban outposts had been destroyed and 38 others captured by Pakistani forces.

He added that Pakistani troops had destroyed 205 Taliban tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery units.

Earlier, Enayatullah Khwarizmi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Defence Ministry, said Taliban forces had carried out offensive attacks on 28 locations in border areas inside Pakistan over the past 24 hours. He claimed the attacks killed 109 Pakistani soldiers and wounded 148 others.