Karzai, Abdullah, Atmar and Khurram react strongly to Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul and Paktika.
Pakistan’s airstrikes on parts of Kabul and Paktika province on Thursday night drew strong reactions from former Afghan officials and political figures.
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai called the attacks a “blatant violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty” and urged Pakistan to reconsider its policies. Abdullah Abdullah and Mohammad Hanif Atmar also condemned the attacks, saying they were against international standards.
Former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has warned that a military conflict between Kabul and Islamabad could have dangerous consequences for the region. Rangin Dadfar Spanta also said Pakistan is fighting groups it once nurtured.
Abdul Karim Khurram, the former head of Hamid Karzai’s office, said Afghanistan had become not only a competitive arena for world powers, but also a place for conflicting interests of countries in the region to collide.
The Taliban’s defense ministry confirmed the attacks hours later, calling Pakistan’s action “provocative and a violation of national sovereignty.” The ministry warned that Islamabad would be held responsible for the consequences if such attacks were repeated.
Meanwhile, a Pakistani army spokesman, without confirming or denying the attacks, claimed that terrorist groups were operating against Pakistan from Afghanistan and that Islamabad “will not remain idle to defend its national security.”
Local sources said the attacks targeted civilian areas in Kabul and Paktika, causing panic among local residents. A Kabul resident said the sound of explosions and planes continued until midnight.
