Women's protest against Taliban in Afghanistan/courtesy of the photographers
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan said today (Monday) that eight civilians - five women and three children - were killed in airstrikes by Pakistan.
In response, the extremist organization's security forces responded with heavy fire at Pakistani forces.
The escalation between the neighboring countries occurs following an increase in the number of attacks in Pakistan, which claims that these come from the territory of Afghanistan.
The Taliban, which seized power in 2021 when it overthrew the pro-Western government, denies this.
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to harm security by using the territory of Afghanistan," said Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban government.
According to him, five women and three children were killed in the attacks in Khost and Paktika districts on the eastern border.
In a separate statement, the Taliban's Ministry of Defense said that its security forces attacked Pakistani forces at the border in response to the airstrikes.
At the same time, the Taliban's foreign ministry said it summoned the head of Pakistan's delegation to the country to condemn the attacks.
In a statement published by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, it was said that Pakistan carried out "intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations in the border areas inside Afghanistan."
Islamabad did not specify what kind of operations they were, but said they were aimed at members of the Hafez Gulf Bahadur extremist group after an attack on a military post in Pakistan on Saturday.
In a statement given to state television, the Pakistani military said that "the latest wave of terrorism has the full support and assistance of Afghanistan."
He did not mention any airstrikes, but said Saturday's attack was carried out by militants who have a "safe haven" in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's leadership at the funeral of soldiers killed in the latest attack on Saturday/Reuters
The Pakistani government and security officials have repeatedly said that in recent months there has been an increase in such attacks, many of which have been carried out by the Pakistani Taliban and launched from Afghan soil.
"During the past two years, Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its grave concerns to the interim Afghan government regarding the presence of terrorist organizations," Pakistan's foreign ministry said, referring to the Taliban regime that is not recognized by most of the international community.
The latest attack on Saturday occurred when a vehicle loaded with explosives and several suicide bombers detonated at a military post near the Afghan border, killing seven members of Pakistani security forces.
"Pakistan should not accuse Afghanistan of lack of control, laxity and problems in its territory," said a Taliban spokesman.
"Such incidents can have very negative consequences beyond Pakistan's control."
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