Taliban Interior Minister Hakani Warns Against Escalation After Pakistan Airstrike in Kabul

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s Interior Minister, speaking at the funeral of victims of a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation clinic in Kabul, stated that his administration is “not weak” and has the capability to confront Pakistan, but does not want the situation to worsen further. Speaking on Wednesday at the ceremony, Haqqani described Pakistan’s attack on civilian areas in Kabul as “shameful” and called for humanitarian organizations to investigate the incident. He assured that the response to this event will be handled “with full prudence.” Haqqani also urged the people and religious scholars of Pakistan to prevent actions that, according to him, target Afghan civilians. He emphasized that decisions should not be dominated by vengeful sentiments. This comes amid growing concerns over the protection of civilians in the capital following the attack on a medical facility. Critics argue that the Taliban administration holds fundamental responsibility to ensure the security of residents and safeguard civilian institutions, and that the continuation of such incidents raises serious questions about the effectiveness of their security measures.