Pakistan declares war against Afghanistan

• Declaration after the Afghanistan attacks on Pakistani army posts

• 55 Pakistani soldiers killed in Afghan army attack

• Pakistani plane shot down

Kabul (Afghanistan) / Islamabad (Pakistan) – Pakistan has officially declared war on Afghanistan. It has launched airstrikes on the cities of Kabul and Kandahar.

Pakistan had earlier this week carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan, killing more than 80 people. It claimed to have attacked terrorist camps in Afghanistan during the operation; however, the Taliban Government claimed that innocent civilians were killed. The Taliban Government vowed to avenge that attack and subsequently launched an attack on the Pakistani army. In response, Pakistan tried to attack Afghanistan again on the night of February 26th. At the time, the Afghan army shot down a Pakistani plane and also attacked military posts. As more than 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, an enraged Pakistan declared war and launched an attack on Afghanistan. Earlier, when the conflict between the two countries had reached its peak, Qatar tried to mediate, but it failed.

Afghanistan’s stance

Taliban Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan carried out airstrikes in the southern city of Kandahar and the southeastern province of Paktia. At least three explosions were heard in Kabul; however, there was no immediate information about the exact location of the attack in the Afghan capital or possible casualties. Our forces killed 55 Pakistani soldiers in the attack, while many were captured alive. In response to repeated violations by the Pakistani army, a large-scale offensive was launched against Pakistani military bases and military posts. 19 Pakistani military bases and posts along the Durand Line have been captured. Pakistani soldiers from 4 additional posts fled. Afghan forces captured several light and heavy weapons, ammunition, military equipment and a large military transport vehicle, and destroyed a Pakistani tank. The bodies of some Pakistani soldiers were taken to Afghanistan.

We are capable of crushing the enemy: Pakistani PM Sharif

“Our forces have the full capability to crush any aggressive ambition. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said in a post on ‘X’.

Our patience has run out; decisive action will be taken: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif alleged that after the withdrawal of ‘NATO’ troops, it was expected that peace would be established in Afghanistan and the Taliban Government would focus on the interests of the Afghan people and regional stability; but the Taliban has turned Afghanistan into a colony of India. (Can a country like Pakistan, having oscillated between American and Chinese control, genuinely claim moral authority to accuse others? – Editor). The Taliban tried to target Pakistan, to which our armed forces are giving a decisive response. Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is an open war between you and us. We are your neighbours, and we know your reality very well, Asif threatened.

Pakistani Minister Attaullah Tarar has said in an ‘X’ post that Pakistan has launched ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has condemned the Taliban’s attack. Pakistani media has claimed that only 2 soldiers were killed in the Afghan attack.

Editorial Perspective

The US President Donald Trump, who has proclaimed the end of eight wars worldwide, will he now bring this war to a halt ? Or is the world meant to believe that Pakistan launched this war at his behest ?