Taliban Military Chief Issues Stern Warning to Pakistan After Airstrikes

Faziluddin Fattah, Chief of Staff of the Taliban’s military, has issued a stern warning to Pakistan in response to recent airstrikes, vowing a tougher retaliation against what he described as “aggression.” On Friday, February 26, he stated that his forces are capable of defending Afghanistan’s “territorial integrity” and will not leave any attack unanswered.

These remarks came after reports emerged of Pakistan bombing targets in the provinces of Laghman, Paktia, Paktika, and Khost. Following the overnight strikes, tensions along the border between the two countries have escalated, raising concerns about a potential wider conflict.

The Taliban military chief claimed that in retaliatory attacks in the border areas, several Pakistani military outposts were “captured” and a number of Pakistani soldiers were killed. He also warned Pakistani troops that if the attacks continue, they will face a “more decisive” response.

However, the escalation of border clashes comes amid ongoing suffering for residents of eastern Afghanistan, who have historically borne the brunt of such tensions. The increase in military tensions and the absence of transparent mechanisms for crisis management have once again raised questions about the Taliban administration’s approach to foreign relations and its ability to ensure citizens’ security.