Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistani army performed air strikes in neighbouring Afghanistan late on Tuesday evening, concentrating on hideouts of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed group in Paktika province, in accordance with safety officers.
Whereas no official assertion was issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of International Affairs or army media wing, the Inter-Companies Public Relations (ISPR), sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that the strikes occurred within the Barmal district of Afghanistan, close to Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The interim Afghan authorities, dominated by the Afghan Taliban, additionally confirmed the assaults however insisted that civilians had been focused. The Afghan Ministry of Protection said that a number of refugees, together with ladies and kids, have been killed or injured.
“The Pakistani aspect ought to perceive that such arbitrary measures should not an answer to any downside,” Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s defence ministry, wrote on social media platform X. “The Islamic Emirate is not going to depart this cowardly act unanswered and considers the protection of its territory an inalienable proper,” he added.
The air strikes, the second such incident this year, got here simply hours after Pakistan’s Particular Consultant for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadi, met the interim Afghan International Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul.
“Met International Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi immediately. Held wide-ranging discussions. Agreed to work collectively to additional strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote peace and progress within the area,” Sadiq posted on X.
Sadiq’s go to to Kabul, which additionally included a gathering with Afghan interim inside minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Monday, occurred amid deteriorating relations between the 2 neighbours, and ties are solely prone to sink additional following the Tuesday evening strikes, say analysts.
Growing assaults
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Afghan authorities of harbouring armed teams, particularly the TTP, which it claims carries out cross-border assaults concentrating on Pakistani safety forces.
Final week, TTP fighters claimed accountability for killing at the least 16 Pakistani troopers in South Waziristan in one of many deadliest current assaults on safety personnel.
Whereas the Afghan Taliban deny offering refuge to armed teams or permitting their territory for use for cross-border assaults, Pakistan asserts that the TTP conducts its operations from Afghan sanctuaries.
Throughout a United Nations Safety Council briefing final week, Pakistan mentioned that 1000’s of TTP fighters have sought shelter in Afghanistan.
“The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the biggest listed terrorist organisation working in Afghanistan. With secure havens near our border, it poses a direct and each day menace to Pakistan’s safety,” Pakistani diplomat Usman Iqbal Jadoon mentioned on the UN briefing.
Information signifies an increase in assaults and fatalities, notably in Pakistan’s restive northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and southwestern Balochistan province, each of which border Afghanistan.
In keeping with Pakistan’s Inside Ministry, greater than 1,500 violent incidents within the first 10 months of this 12 months have resulted in at the least 924 deaths. Among the many casualties have been at the least 570 regulation enforcement personnel and 351 civilians.
The Pakistan Institute for Battle and Safety Research (PICSS), an Islamabad-based analysis organisation, reported greater than 856 assaults up to now in 2024, surpassing the 645 incidents recorded in 2023.
Threat of retaliation
Pakistan maintains that it has repeatedly shared proof with the Afghan Taliban concerning TTP operations however claims these considerations haven’t been adequately addressed.
The Pakistani authorities launched a army marketing campaign, Azm-e-Istehkam (“Resolve for Stability”), in June, and safety analyst Amir Rana believes that the present air strikes are seemingly a part of this operation.
“Discussions inside army circles have centered on conducting offensives on Afghan soil after the current surge in assaults towards safety personnel. These strikes seem like triggered by final week’s assaults on troopers,” Rana advised Al Jazeera.
Rana, who can be the director of Islamabad-based safety suppose tank Pak Institute for Peace Research (PIPS), additional says that the Kabul go to by Sadiq, Pakistani particular consultant to Afghanistan, won’t be linked to the Tuesday air strikes.
“Sadiq’s go to was extra about conveying the federal government message to share its apprehensions about growing assaults by TTP networks which function from Afghanistan, and was seemingly a trust-building train,” he added.
Ihsanullah Tipu, an Islamabad-based safety analyst, mentioned that Pakistan has performed at the least 4 air strikes on TTP hideouts in Afghanistan over the previous few years, together with one in March.
Nevertheless, Tipu added {that a} main flaw in Pakistan’s Afghanistan coverage was its “inconsistent strategy”.
“Traditionally, Pakistan’s strategy has been personality-driven quite than strategy-driven. Actions comparable to cross-border air strikes must be a part of a complete and well-planned coverage as an alternative of reactive measures,” Tipu, who can be the co-founder of The Khorasan Diary, a safety analysis portal, advised Al Jazeera.
Tipu additionally prompt that whereas the Afghan authorities has promised retaliation, the true response could come from the TTP.
“The precise response could come from the Pakistani Taliban, who’ve been discussing revenge assaults of their inside communications already, alleging that the strikes killed their ladies and kids,” the Islamabad-based Tipu mentioned.
Rana from PIPS mentioned that such cross-border assaults have gotten a norm globally, and mentioned it was unlikely that Pakistan would face any criticism or penalties from the worldwide group for the air strikes.
“However this additionally presents a giant problem to us, and a matter to introspect, that regardless of 4 many years of engagement in Afghanistan, we nonetheless haven’t developed diplomatic abilities to carry dialogue with rulers in Afghanistan, whoever it is likely to be, in a constructive method,” Rana mentioned.
Tipu, in the meantime, emphasised that the TTP problem remained a significant impediment to Pakistani-Afghan relations.
“With Sadiq’s reappointment as particular envoy, there have been hopes for détente between the 2 nations. Nevertheless, Tuesday’s strikes could considerably hinder any progress earlier than it formally begins,” he mentioned.
