Taliban, the terror network currently at the helm of affairs in Afghanistan, said on Sunday (December 28) that it targeted “several points” across Pakistani border, Al Jazeera reported. The reported attacks have come just days after Pakistan’s air force bombed several targets inside Afghanistan.
Taliban did not explicitly name Pakistan in its statement but said that the attacks were carried out “beyond the hypothetical line’ between Pakistan and Afghanistan. This expression is often used by Afghan authorities to mention the Durand Line that separates the country from Pakistan. Taliban does not consider the Durand Line to be the border between the two countries.
“Several points beyond the hypothetical line, serving as centres and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters who organised and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” said Taliban as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Taliban spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi was reportedly asked if Taliban’s statement referred to Pakistan.
“We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.” he said.
As per Al Jazeera, no casualties were reported on either sides.
Pakistan has had major role in formation and development of terrorist outfits in Afghanistan. In past it has actively aided the Taliban and has also faced allegations of helping the terror outfit even in the midst of USA’s ‘War on Terror’ after 9/11 attacks.
When Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan welcomed the development. However, the new Taliban regime has proven to be less co-operative that Pakistan had hoped. There have been signs that Taliban government is trying to reduce its heavy dependence on Pakistan.
