Kabul, Mar 13: Afghanistan is hugely angry as Pakistan, after a brief lull, again resorted to military brutality against it, targeting civilian houses last night and leaving at least 4 dead and 25 injured, mostly women and children.
In retaliation, Afghanistan carried out drone attacks at a major Pakistani military cantonment in Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province amidst its declaration that “this injustice (by Pakistan) will not go unanswered”.
According to Afghan Taliban sources, the drones targeted the Pakistani military’s weapons depot, other key facilities and residential structures of the Pakistan Army.
Among the targets was the office of the commander of the cantonment, they said.
The action by Afghanistan came hours after Pakistani military carried out cross-border attacks in the dead of the night, bombing civilian areas in capital Kabul, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika and other places.
In the attack on Kabul, at least 4 persons were killed and 25 were injured, most of them women and children, according to officials.
The Pakistani military also hit a fuel facility of private airline Kam Airways, according to Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman of the Taliban regime.
“The Pakistani military forces targeted the homes of civilians in some areas, resulting in the martyrdom of women and children, while in other locations, empty fields were struck,” he said in his social media post.
“The cruel act of aggression during the final days of the holy month of Ramadan and on the eve of Eid shows that they (Pakistani military) are not committed to any human principles or moral values,” he said.
Strongly denouncing “this crime and clear act of aggression” by Pakistani military, the Afghan Taliban leader pledged, “Insha Allah, this injustice will not go unanswered.”
Hours later, Afghan Defence Ministry said, “In response to the Pakistani military regime’s night time incursions, Afghan Air Force targeted strategic military centers and facilities of Pakistani military in the Kohat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this morning.”
In these attacks, it said, “the Kohat military fort was destroyed and near the fort, within two kilometers, the war command centre of the Durand Line and the (cantonment) Commander’s office were precisely hit.”
It added, “the fort’s military facilities, command center, depots and soldiers’ residential areas were obliterated, causing heavy human and financial losses.”
Significantly, the fresh Pakistani military attacks on Afghanistan came despite hectic efforts by China to bring about peace between the two nations with which it has good relations.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar March 10 to discuss the problems between Kabul and Islamabad.
Chinese Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and Special Envoy Yue Xiaoyong, met Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi earlier this week, according to a statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry.
Yue has been shuttling between Kabul and Islamabad while close communication is being maintained by the Chinese embassies in both the nations with the respective governments.
“The most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a media briefing.
Pakistan, on the pretext of targeting TTP militant camps, has been repeatedly carrying out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan since February 22 and killed dozens of innocent civilians, including children and women.
The Pakistani resorted to the military aggression despite this being the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims and even after claiming to follow the principles of Islam.
The Afghan Taliban has refused to be intimidated and has been hitting back strongly, targeting Pakistani military facilities along the disputed border as well as inside. (NVI)
