The Afghanistan government under Taliban leadership issued a warning to Pakistan, cautioning that any intrusion into its territory would result in significant repercussions. This statement followed Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, who had previously indicated that Pakistan could target hideouts of the banned terrorist group TTP in Afghanistan as part of a newly launched military operation against terrorism.
Afghanistan warns that any incursion into our territory, regardless of the pretext or guise, will bear serious consequences and the violators will be held accountable,” warned the Afghanistan Defence Force.
It said in a statement, “The latest statement by Pakistan’s defense minister regarding the potential violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty is both unwise and an attempt to muddy the waters, which benefits no one. Pakistan’s leadership should refrain from making such sensitive statements on critical issues.”
Last week, the government launched ‘Operation Azm-i-Istehkam’ to counter the terrorism threat, prompted by the Afghan Taliban’s tepid response to prevent TTP rebels from using their territory against Pakistan.
Asif told Voice of America that the decision to launch the counter-terrorism operation was deliberate. “The decision about Azm-e-Istehkam was taken because of the economic difficulties, and it may also target TTP’s sanctuaries across the border,” he told the state-owned American news network and international radio broadcaster.
The minister stated that Afghanistan had been “exporting” terrorism to Pakistan, which he argued wasn’t against international law because those responsible were harbored there. He noted that while the TTP operated from Afghanistan, its few thousand members were active within Pakistan.
He also dismissed any possibility of holding talks with the banned group, stating that there were no areas of agreement.
The TTP, or Pakistan Taliban, was established in 2007 as a coalition of various militant organizations. Its primary objective is to enforce a stringent interpretation of Islam throughout Pakistan.