Explained: Why did Pakistan launch airstrikes on Afghanistan?
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Last month, the Pakistani army carried out air attacks prior to dawn in the provinces of Kunar and Khost in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 45 people, including 20 children. It is believed that military action, although not confirmed by the authorities in Islamabad, is in retaliation for the death of seven Pakistani soldiers in the Waziristan district of northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on the border with Afghanistan. The militants who say they were operating from East Afghanistan were behind the murders.
What group do the militants belong to?
It is suspected that the militants who carried out the murders are members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Pakistani Taliban, a prohibited terrorist organization founded in 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud, a high-profile commander Yhadí. Mainly attracts members and the support of the tribal areas of Pashtun in the northwest of Pakistan, particularly in the north and south of Waziristan.
What are the main objectives of the group?
The main objectives of the TTP, according to a report by the United States Peace Institute, include “implementing the law of Sharia, fighting US forces and NATO in Afghanistan and participating in jihad against the Pakistani army.” With the forces of the United States and NATO that leave the region and the Taliban in control now, the TTP now focuses exclusively on implementing Sharia and fighting the Pakistan army.
Why have significant terrorist attacks assumed the responsibility of TTP?
One of its boldest attacks includes the Karachi Sabrete International Airport in 2014 and the murder of 150 people, most of them students of the Army Public School, in Peshawar, the same year. In the previous year, again in Peshawar, TTP Suicide Bombers attacked the historic Church of All Saints, killing at least 120 people. In 2012, they were responsible for the attempted murder of Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
What is your equation with Afghan Taliban?
They are “two sides of the same currency”, a high -ranking member of the Pakistani army has been cited in the past. It is known that Pakistani Talibanos provide men and logistical support to their Afghan counterparts. He had even trained and sent hundreds of suicide bombers from tribal areas across the border. Hundreds of imprisoned TTP militants were released from prisons last year when Afghan Taliban took control of Afghanistan. The TTP also shares close ties with Al Qaeda and the Haqqani network, an affiliate from the Afghan Taliban. What was the reaction of the Afghan Taliban to air attacks?
The Taliban authorities expressed a strong disapproval of air attacks and summoned the Pakistan ambassador to Kabul to deliver a diplomatic démarce.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns Pakistan’s attacks against refugees in Khost and Kunar. The IEA calls to the Pakistani side that does not prove the patience of Afghan on such issues and do not repeat the same error again, otherwise it will be bad Consequences, “said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban government.
The Pakistani Taliban also issued a statement condemning the attack. “We want to tell the Pakistani army that each war has a beginning and Pakistan has violated all the principles of war per day,” said Muhammad Khurasani, spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban. “We challenge Pakistan’s army to fight us on the battlefield instead of bombing oppressed people and refugee fields.”
The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement by saying: “Pakistan has repeatedly requested the Afghan government in recent months to ensure the border region of Pak-Faghan. Terrorists are using Afghan soil with impunity to carry out activities within Pakistan “
Last month, the Pakistani army carried out air attacks prior to dawn in the provinces of Kunar and Khost in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 45 people, including 20 children. It is believed that military action, although not confirmed by the authorities in Islamabad, is in retaliation for the death of seven Pakistani soldiers in…