Afghanistan bombs Pakistan: Details of the military escalation and the retaliatory response
In a notable development on the tense border strip, the Afghan army officially announced the launch of "intensive attacks" targeting Pakistani military positions, in a move described by observers as a direct and immediate response to the recent air raids launched by Islamabad inside Afghan territory.
In a televised statement, Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the Afghan army in eastern Afghanistan, announced that border forces had begun heavy artillery shelling of Pakistani troop positions. Mohammadi asserted that this action was "in response to airstrikes and violations committed by Pakistan in its shelling of areas in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces," emphasizing the Afghan forces' readiness to respond to any aggression against the country's sovereignty.
Background of tension and mutual blows
This military escalation comes just days after Pakistani warplanes launched airstrikes deep inside Afghanistan. Islamabad justified the strikes as targeting hideouts of the banned Pakistani Taliban, whom it accuses of launching deadly attacks in Pakistani cities from Afghan territory. In contrast, the caretaker government in Kabul condemned the strikes, asserting that they resulted in civilian casualties and deeming them a blatant violation of Afghan sovereignty and a breach of international norms.
The roots of the crisis and its impact on bilateral relations
This event cannot be separated from the complex historical and political context of relations between the two neighbors. Since the Taliban's return to power in Kabul in 2021, tensions have escalated significantly instead of improving as expected. The disputes primarily revolve around security and border issues; Pakistan accuses its western neighbor of not doing enough to control the border and prevent armed groups from using Afghan territory as a launching pad for attacks, an accusation Kabul categorically denies, asserting that it does not allow any party to use its territory to threaten neighboring countries.
The repercussions of the escalation on the stability of the region
The exchange of artillery and airstrikes is raising regional and international concerns that the two countries could slide into open conflict, further destabilizing the already fragile region. Analysts point out that continued clashes could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, disrupt trade through vital border crossings upon which both economies depend, and complicate the already complex refugee issue. All eyes remain on diplomatic efforts to contain the situation and prevent the border skirmishes from escalating into a wider conflict.
