Afghanistan vows ‘appropriate and measured response’ to Pakistani strikes

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz ​​​​​​​

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan said Sunday it would meet the reported Pakistani strikes on its soil with an “appropriate and measured response” at a “suitable time.”

The ministry condemned the attacks "in the strongest possible terms" on US social media company X, describing them as a clear violation of national sovereignty, international law, principles of good neighborliness and Islamic values.

It said targeting civilian and religious centers demonstrates the Pakistani military’s intelligence and security shortcomings, and "such repeated acts of aggression will never be able to conceal their internal shortcomings.

Pakistani forces reportedly carried out airstrikes in several areas of eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, according to Afghan media and the Pakistani Ministry of Information.

“Pakistan in a retributive response, has carried out intelligence based selective targeting of seven Terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban of Fitna al Khwarij (FAK) and its affiliates and Islamic State of Khorsan Province (ISKP) at the border region,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting wrote on X early Sunday.

The strikes came in the aftermath of recent suicide bombings in Pakistan, it said.

“Pakistan expects and reiterates the Interim Afghan Government to fulfil its obligations and deny use of its soil by Khwarij and terrorists against Pakistan as the safety and security of people of Pakistan comes first and foremost,” it added.

Pakistan vowed to avenge the killing of two security personnel Saturday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning that it would not allow any attack launched from Afghanistan to go unanswered.