Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban announced a significant retaliatory operation on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of 58 Pakistani soldiers and injuries to 30 others. The Taliban regime’s chief spokesman stated that 20 Pakistani security posts were demolished and considerable weaponry confiscated during the cross-border engagement near the Durand Line. The operation also led to the martyrdom of nine Afghan soldiers and left 16 wounded. International mediation from Saudi Arabia and Qatar led to a halt in hostilities at midnight. The Taliban spokesperson further alleged that ISIS-K, after its defeat in Afghanistan, has established training camps in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. They claim these centers, facilitated through Karachi and Islamabad airports, were instrumental in recent attacks in Iran and Russia, and demanded the handover of ISIS-K operatives. The Taliban also confirmed rejecting a Pakistani request for a delegation visit, citing previous Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory as the reason. They issued a stern warning against further violations of Afghan sovereignty. The Ministry of Defence had previously denounced Pakistan’s airstrikes as an unprecedented act of aggression. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister advised Pakistan to seek dialogue rather than force to resolve issues, drawing parallels with historical failures to subjugate Afghanistan.
