Kabul, Mar 3 : Over the last 4 days, Pakistani military’s air attacks on Afghanistan have killed 110 innocent civilians, including 65 women and children, and injured over 123 besides damaging and destroying hundreds of residential and other structures which include 19 mosques and a madrassa, according to the Taliban regime here.
It voiced outrage over the Pakistani military’s “reckless and aggressive” bombardments against civilians homes and other peaceful places of Afghanistan, that too during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and asserted that the Afghan defence forces reserve the right to respond appropriately.
The Afghan government “considers it a war crime, and calls upon international human rights organizations, the United Nations, and other relevant bodies to condemn these attacks and the resulting civilian casualties, to stand with the oppressed people of Afghanistan in preventing them, and to bring an end to these reckless and aggressive actions by the Pakistani military,” said Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence of the Taliban regime.
Addressing a press conference here, he said, “As you are aware, on the night of 21st February, corresponding to the 4th of the holy month of Ramadan, the Pakistani military regime conducted bombardments against civilian homes in Paktika and Nangarhar provinces.
“In Behsood District of Nangarhar, the residence of an ordinary civilian was completely destroyed, resulting in 22 casualties among the family members.
“In this attack, 17 members of the family of Nazakat Khan, the majority of whom were women and children, were martyred, and five others sustained injuries.
He said the Pakistani regime accepted responsibility for the attack and described the targeted location as a center of the TTP..
However, domestic and international media reported from the scene that the victims were exclusively civilians and children, the Deputy spokesperson noted.
“As the Islamic Emirate possesses the full right to defend its people and the territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the Ministry of National Defense issued a warning of retaliation against this clear and unlawful aggression,” Fitrat pointed out.
Accordingly, on the night of 26 February, extensive operations were carried out along the Durand Line against Pakistani military positions and bases, during which dozens of militias responsible for the killing of children and innocent civilians were punished for their crimes and unlawful actions, he said.
“Since that time and continuing to the present, the Pakistani military regime has repeatedly violated the airspace of Afghanistan,” he said.
In Kabul, Laghman, Nangarhar, Kunar, Khost, Paktika, and Kandahar provinces, the homes of ordinary civilians, mosques, madrassas, public facilities, and three temporary settlements for returnees, namely Anzargi Camp in Kandahar, Omari Camp in Torkham, and other returnee camps in Kunar, have been targeted, the deputy spokesperson said.
As a result of these airstrikes and mortar shelling, 110 ordinary civilians have thus far been martyred in Nangarhar, Kunar, Paktika, Khost, Paktia, and Kandahar provinces, more than 65 of whom were women and children, while 123 others, the overwhelming majority also women and children, have been injured, he said.
According to him, these attacks have also caused extensive financial losses to ordinary civilians, as follows:
•37 houses have been completely destroyed
•316 houses have been partially damaged
•12 shops have been destroyed
•19 mosques have been partially damaged
•One clinic and one madrassa have been destroyed
As a consequence of Pakistan’s bombardments and mortar attacks, approximately 8,400 families have been displaced, he said.
“The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns this aggression and the targeting of civilians in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
“The defense and security forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan retain the legitimate right to protect and defend their territory and people, and in exercising this lawful right, they will continue to stand against the enemy until such time as this aggression and violation cease,” the Afghan government spokesman warned. (NVI)
