Pakistan resumes military operations against Afghanistan as Eid al-Fitr ceasefire ends
On March 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that the Pakistani military has resumed its operations against Afghanistan following a short ceasefire. This announcement shattered hopes for a sustained truce between the two sides.
Last month, Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced their most severe conflict in years, with both sides suffering significant casualties. On March 18, Pakistan and Afghanistan announced a suspension of military actions due to the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr. Two days prior to the ceasefire declaration, a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul was attacked—a strike that proved to be the deadliest air raid in months, killing over 400 people and injuring 265 others. However, Pakistan rejected the Taliban government's statement regarding the airstrike, claiming it was "a precise strike targeting military facilities and infrastructure supporting terrorists." The Pakistani military asserted that the facility housed drones and their launch equipment, and was allegedly used to store Soviet-era SCUD missiles, as well as training suicide bombers. Pakistan stated that since the military campaign began, 707 individuals have died in operations targeting Afghanistan.
The recent ceasefire coincided with the Islamic festival of Eid al-Fitr. Islamabad said the truce was also made at the request of Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
On March 26, Islamabad announced that the ceasefire had ended and that military operations would continue until objectives are achieved and the Afghan Taliban authorities reassess their "erroneous priorities" in supporting terrorism infrastructure.
Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring and supporting Islamist militants who carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies this, stating that extremism is a domestic issue within Pakistan.
Following mediation efforts by friendly nations including China, tensions had eased, but they escalated again last month when Pakistan launched direct strikes not only against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), as previously claimed, but also against other targets in Afghanistan.
Since the Pakistani military first conducted airstrikes in October last year, trade through major border crossings with Afghanistan has been suspended. On March 26, the Torghundi border crossing in northwestern Pakistan was temporarily opened, allowing hundreds of Afghan refugees to return home. For decades, Pakistan has hosted over two million Afghan refugees fleeing continuous wars in their homeland. Islamabad hopes all Afghan nationals will leave unless they hold valid visas, citing past involvement in armed attacks and other criminal activities.
This repatriation effort is part of a broader initiative known as the "Deportation Program for Illegal Foreign Nationals," launched at the end of 2023. The United Nations has stated that deporting these refugees violates international obligations.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1860765716587655/
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