Minister: Pakistan will attack Afghanistan

In a recent interview, Pakistan's defense minister stated that the country will persist in carrying out attacks on Afghanistan as part of a fresh military operation designed to combat terrorism.

According to Khawaja Asif, the aerial strikes were aimed at groups that Pakistan accuses of targeting security forces and civilians.

 In the past, Pakistani senior officials had acknowledged only one strike on the neighboring country, which occurred in March of this year.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan is describing the strikes as violations of its sovereignty.

 Operations have been conducted in Afghanistan, and there are plans to continue them. They will not be provided with cake and pastries.

Mr. Asif made it clear in his statement that they would not hesitate to retaliate if they were to face an attack.

In response to concerns about the legality of the strikes, he confidently stated that Pakistan does not provide advance notice to the Taliban regarding impending attacks.

According to him, this would remove any potential for unexpected outcomes. What is the purpose of informing them, "Prepare yourselves; we are on our way?"

The Taliban criticized the statement, cautioning Pakistan about the potential repercussions of cross-border attacks.

The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has become increasingly strained following the Taliban's assumption of power in 2021.

 According to Pakistan, there are claims that a faction of the Taliban, known as the Pakistani Taliban or TTP, has found sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

"Despite repeated requests, Afghanistan has been unwilling to take action against the TTP and prevent them from using Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan," stated Mr. Asif.

Pakistan has recently unveiled a new military operation called "Resolve for Stability" in English to tackle the rising violence and terrorist attacks. The main focus will be on groups operating within Pakistan.

Critics and government sources have suggested that the new operation was initiated under Beijing's pressure.

The concern revolves around the safety of Beijing's 29,000 citizens in Pakistan, 2,500 of who are involved in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, which are part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

In March 2024, tragedy struck when a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project in northwest Pakistan.

Regrettably, five Chinese engineers lost their lives in the attack.

According to Pakistan's military, they have previously claimed that the attack was planned in Afghanistan and that the bomber was an Afghan national.

Mr. Asif refuted any claims that the recent military operations resulted from pressure from China. According to his statement, the operations will tackle security risks faced by Chinese projects and nationals in Pakistan.