What began as border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan has escalated into full-scale war, prompting a fragile 48-hour ceasefire that came into effect on Wednesday evening.
Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul and Kandahar on Wednesday killed at least 15 Afghan civilians and injured over 100, following a Taliban counterattack that seized border outposts in Spin-Boldak. The symbolic imagery of the Afghan victory became the abandoned pants of Pakistani soldiers who fled their posts.
"Empty trousers, recovered from abandoned military posts of the Pakistani army near Durand Line are displayed in eastern Nangrahar province, Afghanistan," wrote Daud Junbish, an Afghan journalist. He shared an image of Taliban fighters displaying trousers and weapons seized from the border outposts they fled after a counter-attack.
The dangerous escalation has unified Afghans behind the fighters of the Islamic Emirate against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. "If needed, we will also join the Mujahideen and the army of the Islamic Emirate on the battlefield," Mohibullah, a resident of Kandahar, was quoted by international media house as saying. "The Islamic Emirate gave them a proper response. All the people are standing with them against Pakistan," said Paktia resident Baitullah.
PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN CLASHES KILLED OVER 200
The hostilities erupted last week when Islamabad targeted Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Kabul, coinciding with the maiden visit of Afghan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi of the Taliban regime to India. Afghans have blamed Pakistan for initiating the border conflict and repeatedly violating Afghanistan's airspace.
At the heart of the dispute is the controversial Durand Line, drawn by colonial British authorities as a border between pre-Independent India and Afghanistan. This line, which bifurcates the traditional Pashtun homeland, has never been accepted by Pathans on either side.
Over the weekend, Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged deadly fire in at least seven locations along the Durand Line. Both sides claimed significantly heavier casualties were inflicted on the other. Pakistan reported killing over 200 fighters from the Afghan Taliban and their allies, while Afghanistan maintained it had eliminated 58 Pakistani soldiers, according to international media.
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AFGHANS RALLY BEHIND TALIBAN TO PROTECT THEIR HOMELAND AGAINST PAK ATTACKS
Following Wednesday's Pakistani airstrikes, Afghans rallied behind the Taliban to defend their homeland. "The Islamic Emirate does not seek conflict with anyone, but Pakistan continues to oppress us," Kabul Jan of Paktia said. A Kabul resident, Abdul Ghafour, said, "We defend the Islamic Emirate and our country. No foreigner has the right to interfere in our homeland."
The Wednesday airstrike in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar killed at least 15 civilians and left hundreds injured. Earlier, the Taliban claimed its fighters killed "a large number" of Pakistani soldiers in retaliatory fire, seizing Pakistani weapons and tanks.
A video of Taliban fighters on a seized Pakistani T-55 tank went viral. Videos and images also emerged of Taliban fighters displaying trousers and weapons of Pakistani soldiers seized from attacks on two border outposts.
Over the weekend, Taliban fighters mounted a strong offensive on Pakistani forces across the Durand Line, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and destroying 20 Pakistani security outposts, according to reports.
Amid retaliatory strikes from Afghan forces, Pakistan sought mediation from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. "For God's Sake, stop Afghans from fighting," Pakistani officials told the countries, according to international media. "We thank the security forces who have always defended our land. We will always stand with them and support them in any way we can," Fereshta, a resident of Kabul. Though a 48-hour ceasefire is now in place, the war between Afghanistan and Pakistan appears far from over.
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