Pakistani air strikes kill 4 Afghan civilians, Taliban threatens retaliation

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have flared up again in South Asia. Pakistani fighter jets crossed into Afghan territory and carried out sudden air strikes in separate areas of three provinces, Kandahar, Khost and Paktia. The action has created war-like conditions on the border between the two neighbouring countries.

According to an official spokesperson for the Taliban government, four innocent Afghan civilians were killed on the spot in these air strikes. The Taliban administration has strongly condemned the incident, calling it a direct attack on Afghanistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Taliban has warned clearly that this aggression and pressure will be met with a decisive and strong response at the right time.

On the other hand, the Pakistani military justified the air strikes, claiming that drones were allegedly being sent into Pakistan from Afghan territory. The Islamabad administration explained that it was necessary to carry out this military action to protect the country's security and territorial integrity.

However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has flatly rejected all of Pakistan's claims. Mujahid alleged that Pakistan is making such false and fabricated claims to divert attention from its internal security failures and to justify its military actions. He said clearly that Afghanistan will not compromise on the security of its citizens in any way, and that such provocative actions will further worsen relations between the two countries.

Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai also reacted sharply to Pakistan's aggressive stance. He wrote on social media that the bombings in Kandahar, Khost and Paktia were completely against mutual respect between neighbouring countries and against international rules. Karzai said it was time for Karachi and Islamabad to rethink their negative policy, and advised Pakistan to resolve the issue through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy instead of military force. He also warned that the fire of this violence could reach Pakistan itself.

This is not the first time Pakistan has carried out air strikes on Afghanistan. Pakistani aircraft have previously carried out similar bombings in Kunar and Paktika provinces. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have become extremely tense over the border dispute on the Durand Line, allegations of sheltering terrorist groups, and mutual accusations.

This latest round of air strikes has made the security situation serious not just in the border areas but across South Asia. Experts around the world are watching closely how the Taliban responds to this attack in the coming days, and whether talks between the two countries resume or the confrontation escalates further.