Kabul, Afghanistan
Reuters
—
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that Afghan Taliban forces targeted “several locations” in neighboring Pakistan, days after Pakistani aircraft carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan.
The Defense Ministry statement did not identify Pakistan but said the airstrikes were carried out “beyond the ‘imaginary line’.” The expression refers to the country’s border with Pakistan, which Afghan authorities have long disputed.
“Several hypothetical locations serving as strongholds and hideouts for malign elements and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan have been targeted for retaliation from the country’s southeast direction,” the ministry said. It became,” he said.
Asked whether the statement referred to Pakistan, a ministry spokesperson said: “We cannot confirm the territory because we do not consider it to be Pakistani territory, but it was on the other side of the line of assumption.” ” he said.
For decades, Afghanistan rejected the border known as the Durand Line, drawn by British colonial authorities in the 19th century through the mountainous and often lawless tribal belt between present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. I’ve been doing it.
Details of casualties and specific areas targeted were not disclosed. Pakistan’s military public relations department and foreign ministry spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Afghan authorities on Wednesday threatened to retaliate over Pakistani shelling that killed civilians. Islamabad said it had targeted Islamic militant hideouts along the border.
The neighbors have tense relations, with Pakistan saying some militant attacks on its territory were carried out from Afghan territory, a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
