Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict Continues, At Least 110,000 Afghans Displaced
The Pakistani military announced on the 15th that it carried out attacks overnight and early this morning against some Taliban military targets in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar region. A military source who did not wish to disclose their identity told AFP that the Pakistani military destroyed some Afghan Taliban militia and terrorist supply facilities and storage areas in the Kandahar region. The Taliban regime spokesperson told AFP that the Pakistani air strikes hit a rehabilitation center and an empty container used by soldiers to shelter from the sun.
Armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been escalating for more than half a month. According to updated statistics from the United Nations on the 13th, since February 26, 75 civilians have been killed in Afghanistan, and at least 115,000 people have been displaced. The World Food Programme, under the United Nations, announced on the 15th that it had begun providing emergency humanitarian aid to the area.
According to news announced by the Pakistani military on the 14th, Taliban militants recently launched drone attacks on civilians in Pakistan. Although the Pakistani military successfully intercepted the drones, drone fragments caused injuries to two children and two adults in various places. The Pakistani president condemned these drone attacks targeting civilians.
One day prior to this, the Pakistani military had launched air strikes on multiple areas in Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul. According to UN reports, these attacks resulted in four civilian deaths in Kabul.
On the 15th, Pakistan announced air strikes on some military targets and so-called "terrorist" hideouts in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar. Pakistan currently has not disclosed any casualties. However, a military source who did not wish to disclose their identity told AFP that the air strikes destroyed some Taliban militia and "terrorists" supply facilities and storage areas used to attack Pakistani civilians in Kandahar. Some local residents told AFP that they saw fighter jets flying over mountainous areas with military bases and heard explosions.
However, the Taliban government spokesperson told AFP that the air strikes hit a rehabilitation center and an empty container used by soldiers during the day to shield from the sun. No casualties were reported.
The armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been ongoing for months. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of providing sanctuary for the Pakistani Taliban militant groups, which have carried out several deadly attacks within Pakistan. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and China have all participated in mediation efforts, but failed to prevent the escalation of the conflict between the two sides, which severely intensified about half a month ago. Pakistan declared war on Afghanistan on February 26.
On February 28, the United States and Israel jointly launched a military operation against Iran, making the situation in these two countries bordering Iran even more complicated.
Source: rfi
Escalation of Border Conflict Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859737612475722/
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