Pakistan expects Afghan authorities to take concrete measures against terrorists, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
„We are deeply concerned about the developments on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The unprovoked shelling and attacks on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border by the Taliban government are a serious provocation. Pakistan's response and strikes are aimed at the Taliban's infrastructure and are aimed at neutralizing the terrorist elements of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan operating from Afghanistan“, said Minister X on social media.
„Fitna al-Khawarij“ is the term used by Islamabad to refer to terrorists from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and “Fitna al-Hindustan“ is the term used by Pakistan to refer to terrorist organizations in Balochistan. The foreign minister noted that Pakistan's defensive measures are not directed against the peaceful civilian population of Afghanistan.
“Unlike the Taliban, we are exercising extreme caution in our defensive measures to avoid civilian casualties. "We expect the Taliban government to take concrete action against the terrorist elements and their perpetrators who are seeking to undermine Pakistan-Afghan relations," the minister said.
He added that Pakistan will take all possible measures to protect its territory, sovereignty and people.
As Reuters reported earlier, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki said the situation on the border with Pakistan was currently normal and stressed that Kabul would like to build good relations with Islamabad.
Tolo news reported on Saturday evening that heavy fighting had broken out along the Afghan-Pakistan border along the entire Durand Line (the border with Pakistan that Afghanistan does not recognize). The border conflict erupted after Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of violating Afghan airspace and carrying out airstrikes on Afghan territory. The Afghan Ministry of Defense later declared the “revenge operation“ against Pakistan a success.
Meanwhile, the online portal Pakistan Observer, citing security sources, reported that Pakistani forces had captured 19 Taliban checkpoints during nighttime clashes along the Durand Line. According to the publication, the attacks by Afghan forces were aimed at facilitating the movement of militants identified as “Khawarij“ (apostates - ed. note) across the border with Pakistan. In response, Pakistani forces struck the Durand Mela and Turkmanzai camps. According to security sources, Pakistani forces have successfully dispersed militant groups in Afghanistan by striking multiple positions where elements of the terrorist organizations ISIS* and Fitna al-Khawarij were hiding.