Kabul/Islamabad, Feb 27 : Military confrontation between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalated massively today with huge attacks and counter-assaults being carried out by both sides, four days after Pakistani air force conducted strikes in the Taliban-ruled neighbouring country killing dozens of civilians.
The escalation occurred after Afghan forces launched a massive assault at Pakistani military at multiple places along the border last night to avenge the air attacks in Afghanistan during the intervening night of February 21 and 22.
“Heavy retaliatory offensive operations have been launched against the enemy by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” at various points along the Durand Line in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, Nangarhar, and at the Torkham Gate, Hamidullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman of the Taliban regime, said last night.
While the operations were continuing, he said the Afghan forces captured one Headquarters and 19 outposts of the Pakistani military.
Four outposts were abandoned and vacated by the Pakistani forces, and those were completely set on fire, he added in a statement.
“Up to 50-55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, of whom 23 bodies and a number of others have been taken alive into the custody of the Mujahideen,” he said.
Soon after, Pakistan declared an “open war” and carried out fresh air strikes at several places in Afghanistan, including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces.
One of the Pakistani fighter planes was shot down, according to Afghan media.
Hamidullah Fitrat said the Afghan forces seized dozens of light and heavy weapons of the Pakistani military, destroyed a tank, and captured one international harvester vehicle of the enemy.
The major Headquarters of the Pakistani regime, which has been captured, is located at Anzar Sar opposite the Alisher–Terezi district of Khost Province of Afghanistan.
Prior to that, Spokesperson of the Taliban regime Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement, saying the Afghan forces “will, under the cover of darkness, easily eliminate all moving forces of the enemy and send them to hell.”
At around 3.30 am (Afghanistan time), Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X: “The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties.”
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja M. Asif also issued a statement threatening the Taiban-ruled Afghanistan.
“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan). Now it will be ‘dama dam mast qalandar’. Pakistan’s army did not come from across the seas. We are your neighbours; we know your inns and outs,” he said.
Pakistan codenamed its military action against Afghanistan as ‘Operation Ghazab-ul-Haq’.
The attacks by the Afghan forces come four days after Pakistani military carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan in Paktika and Nangarhar provinces, killing dozens of civilians, including children and women.
The Pakistani air attacks, ostensibly to target “TTP terrorists”, also destroyed a mosque and a madrassa, and resulted in burning of copies of Holy Quran to the ashes.
The Taliban regime was outraged by yet another blatant violation of the sovereignty of Afghanistan by the Pakistani military and vowed retaliation at an appropriate time and place.
The Taliban regime was angered more by the fact that the Pakistani military targeted innocent Afghan Muslim civilians during the Holy month of Ramadan.
