Taliban Military Chief Says Pakistan Attacks Have Not Gone Unanswered
Fasihuddin Fatrat, Chief of Staff of the Taliban military administration, stated that recent Pakistani attacks on parts of Afghan territory are “unbearable” and that none of these assaults have gone unanswered. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Fatrat emphasized that forces under his command have responded to what he described as “aggression.”
He described the Pakistani government as “cruel,” accusing Islamabad of targeting residential areas under the pretext of combating the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). According to Fatrat, bombing civilian homes is a “painful” act. This comes after the United Nations previously confirmed that dozens of civilians had been killed in some Pakistani airstrikes along the border.
The Taliban military chief also claimed that the TTP and other anti-Pakistan armed groups are not present in Afghanistan and that the Taliban administration does not permit any group to conduct military activities on Afghan soil. This claim comes amid repeated accusations by Pakistan that the Taliban harbor and support the TTP—allegations consistently denied by the Taliban administration.
In recent months, alongside rising tensions between the two sides, Pakistani airstrikes on parts of the border regions have increased. Pakistan describes these operations as “precise and targeted,” focusing on TTP hideouts.
In response, the Taliban administration has announced retaliatory attacks, claiming to have targeted several Pakistani military centers using drones. The Pakistani military has acknowledged instances of drones entering its airspace from Afghanistan but has yet to release details regarding casualties or damages.
Experts believe that the continuation of these tensions could further destabilize security along the border, a region whose residents have already suffered from insecurity and instability.
