Lagatar24 Desk
Kabul: The Taliban has claimed that at least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and over 30 were injured in retaliatory strikes near the Durand Line in Behrampur district, following Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghan territory. Taliban spokesperson Zabeehullah Mujahid warned Islamabad that “no attack will go unanswered” and accused Pakistan of sheltering ISIS operatives on its soil.
Taliban Warns Pakistan, Cites ISIS Presence
Mujahid accused Pakistan of “turning a blind eye” to ISIS terrorists allegedly operating from its territory. “Pakistan should expel the important ISIS members who are hiding there or hand them over to the Islamic Emirate. The ISIS group poses a threat to many countries in the world, including Afghanistan,” he said. He claimed the Taliban had cleared its territory of militants, but new ISIS training centres had been set up in Pashtunkhwa, with recruits arriving through Karachi and Islamabad airports.
Retaliatory Strikes Along Border Provinces
Defending their actions, Mujahid stated that the Islamic Emirate seized a significant quantity of weapons during the clashes, though over 20 Taliban fighters were killed or injured. The Taliban forces launched strikes on Pakistani military posts across multiple provinces along the border—Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar. Mujahid stressed that any airspace or territorial violation would face a “harsh response.” He also said the airstrikes stopped after Qatar and Saudi Arabia intervened.
Pakistan’s Response
Pakistan did not officially confirm carrying out the airstrikes but urged Kabul to stop harbouring the Pakistani Taliban. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Taliban’s retaliation, stating that Pakistan’s army “destroyed several of their posts, forcing them to retreat,” and warned that every provocation would be met with a “strong and effective response.”
