Pakistan strikes military facilities in Afghanistan, targeting Taliban infrastructure and a tunnel used by militant groups amid escalating cross-border tensions.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military has attacked military facilities in southern Afghanistan. The strikes also targeted what Islamabad described as “terrorist hideouts”.
Security sources said troops destroyed a technical support infrastructure and an equipment storage facility in Kandahar. This city is home to the Taliban administration’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Another strike hit a tunnel in Kandahar allegedly used by the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban militant group. Islamabad blames the TTP for a wave of attacks within Pakistan.
Local residents in Kandahar reported seeing jets and hearing explosions overnight. “Military planes flew over the mountain where there is a military facility, and an explosion followed,” one witness said.
An air strike was also heard in Spin Boldak, southeast of Kandahar. Authorities in the eastern border province of Khost reported clashes on Saturday night.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes damaged a drug rehabilitation centre and an empty container. “The places they are talking about are far away from these two places,” he added.
The operation follows Pakistan’s claim on Saturday that it thwarted “drone attacks” launched from Afghanistan. At least three locations in Pakistan were targeted, including the military headquarters in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari’s office said the Afghan Taliban had “crossed a red line” by targeting civilians. It promised a decisive response.
Islamabad launched a military operation against targets in Afghanistan last month. It says the action targets Islamist extremists responsible for attacks inside Pakistan.
The Taliban government denies involvement in militancy or allowing its territory to be used for such purposes. Pakistan insists its operations do not target Afghan civilians.
Repeated clashes at the border have recently hampered trade and displaced residents. The UN mission in Afghanistan reported at least 75 civilian deaths and 193 injuries in Afghanistan since February 26.
The Sun Malaysia
