Former Afghan Officials Condemn Pakistan Attacks, Pledge Support for Taliban in Defending National Sovereignty
Several former members of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga and Meshrano Jirga, along with political figures from the previous government, gathered in Kabul to condemn recent Pakistani attacks on Afghan territory. They declared their support for the Taliban administration in defending the country’s territorial integrity and emphasized that safeguarding Afghanistan’s borders is a collective responsibility of all Afghans.
The meeting took place today at the office of Sarwar Danish, the former second vice president, with around 20 former national council members and political figures in attendance. Participants stated that the recent attacks on civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces constitute a violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and called for an immediate halt to these incursions.
According to reports, the attacks began on the night of Sunday, February 20, and clashes between the two sides are ongoing. It is also reported that Afghan forces have launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military installations since February 27. Officials claim that Pakistani forces have sustained casualties in these confrontations, although independent verification of these details has not been published.
Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have a long history and have escalated over the years due to security issues and disputes over the Durand Line, the disputed border. The continuation of hostilities in the current situation has raised concerns over the safety of civilians living in border areas.
However, the Taliban administration has yet to provide clear details on how it is managing the tensions or specific measures to protect civilians. As residents of border regions suffer the most from the insecurity, it is expected that the Taliban government will take transparent and responsible steps to prevent the crisis from escalating and ensure civilian protection.
