Khas Kunar police command spokesperson Farid Dehqan has accused the Pakistani military of launching rocket attacks in Afghanistan’s Kunar province. Dehqan reported that around 25 shells were fired by the Pakistani military in various areas of Nari district of Kunar, with ongoing heavy weapon fire. These attacks occurred despite Pakistan’s temporary suspension of military operations for Eid, as per Afghanistan-based Ariana News.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s Chief of Armed Forces Fasihuddin Fitrat also accused the Pakistan military of breaching the ceasefire along the Durand Line. The Afghanistan Ministry of Defence stated that several individuals lost their lives in the Pakistani forces’ assaults in border regions. Fitrat criticized Pakistan for its continuous attacks post-ceasefire, citing Islamabad’s lack of commitment and deception, as reported by Ariana News.
Fitrat emphasized that Afghanistan has refrained from retaliatory actions to prevent escalating tensions and has upheld the ceasefire. However, he warned that if Pakistan persists with such attacks, the ceasefire would lose its meaning, prompting a decisive response from the Taliban. Afghanistan had announced a pause in its ‘Rad al-Zulm’ defensive operations for Eid, following requests from mediators like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Pakistan also declared a temporary halt in military operations for Eid, but reports indicate that over 70 artillery shells were fired by Pakistani forces in Kunar province, according to officials.
Zia-ur-Rahman Spin Ghar, the head of information at Kunar’s Department of Information and Culture, confirmed that 35 shells hit various areas in Narai district, including Barikot, Dokalam, and Tsongalai, with an additional 37 shells in parts of Manogai district. Residents have been advised to stay vigilant and seek refuge in safer locations as the situation is being closely monitored by authorities. Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated in recent weeks due to airstrikes, artillery fire, and mutual accusations.
The conflict intensified when Taliban-led Afghan forces retaliated against Pakistani military installations on February 27, following Pakistan’s actions within Afghan territory on February 21. In response, Pakistan initiated ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ (Righteous Fury) after what it termed as unprovoked firing by Afghan forces across multiple border sectors.
