Pakistan bombs Kabul after declaring ‘open war’ against Afghanistan’s Taliban government, which responds with drone attack

Pakistan and Afghanistan enter into intense confrontation Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged attacks in the early hours of this Friday (27), Brasília time, after the Pakistani government declared an “open war” on the neighboring country. The Afghan capital, Kabul, was bombed. This Friday (27), Pakistan bombed several cities in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, and declared “open war” on the neighboring country, in a worsening of the crisis after several days of clashes. “Our patience has reached the limit. From now on, it is an open war between us and you,” said Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, on the social network sporadic. Pakistan, a nuclear power, accuses Taliban authorities of offering cover to armed militants launching attacks on its territory, which Afghanistan’s government denies. Near the important Torkham border crossing, an AFP journalist observed artillery fire from 9:30 am (2 am Brasília time) on Friday. The fighting reached the Omari camp, which houses Afghan returnees near the border post. “Children, women and elderly people ran,” said Gander Khan, a 65-year-old returnee, standing in front of several tents. “I saw blood, (the shots) injured two or three children and two or three women,” he told AFP. Zarghon, a 44-year-old returnee who gave only his first name, said two or three children went missing amid the panic. ‘Everyone left’ “Some left their documents (…) They took neither the money nor the help they had received. Out of fear, everyone left,” he told AFP. On Thursday night, Afghan forces launched a border offensive against Pakistani troops in response, according to Kabul, to Pakistani bombings last weekend. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Friday’s and other recent attacks in Paktia province were an “appropriate response” to the neighboring country’s actions. The Afghan government confirmed the airstrikes. His spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, who hours earlier had announced the resumption of “large-scale offensive operations” on the border, said there were no casualties. In the middle of Ramadan, the streets of Kabul were quiet after dawn, without a large presence of security forces or checkpoints, according to AFP reporters. Concerned, Iran and China presented themselves as possible mediators in the conflict. The government of Iran, which shares an eastern border with Afghanistan and Pakistan – and is in turn engaged in negotiations to avoid a conflict with the United States – has offered to “facilitate dialogue”. Chinese authorities called on the parties to remain calm and act with restraint, to “reach a ceasefire as quickly as possible and avoid further bloodshed.” Very tense relations Since Thursday, the two countries have presented contradictory versions of the situation. Afghan spokesman Mujahid stated that “dozens of Pakistani soldiers died”, “several were also injured and others were taken prisoner”, and more than 15 Pakistani outposts fell. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denied the Afghan version: “No Pakistani posts were taken or damaged”, while the Pakistanis inflicted “serious losses” on the Afghans. The shelling by Afghan forces followed several Pakistani airstrikes last weekend in Nangarhar and Paktia provinces, following “recent suicide bombings” in Pakistan. Relations between the two neighbors have worsened considerably in recent months. The land border remains largely closed except to Afghans returning to their country since October fighting left more than 70 people dead on both sides. After an initial ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey, several rounds of talks were organized, but a lasting agreement was not reached. ISIS Khorasan, considered one of the most active arms of the Islamic State organization, operates in both countries. When it returned to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban movement imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, which deprives women and girls of the right to education and the job market.

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