The United Nations revealed that 34 individuals lost their lives, and 89 sustained injuries during Pakistani military actions in Afghanistan from February 26 to March 1. Among the victims were women and children, as per UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is actively documenting civilian casualties in the region.
Dujarric highlighted that due to ongoing conflict, movement restrictions in border areas have hindered humanitarian agencies’ efforts to provide essential aid, leaving Afghan refugees from Pakistan in a vulnerable state. He also expressed concerns about a potential rise in Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan. The escalation of tensions along the Durand Line has seen Afghan forces launching retaliatory strikes on Pakistani military bases following recent air raids by the Pakistan Air Force inside Afghanistan.
The Afghan defense ministry disclosed that its forces targeted significant military sites near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, including locations linked to Kabul, the Ali-Sher district in Khost, Jalalabad, and Kandahar. The situation marks a recent spike in hostilities along the Durand Line, escalating since Pakistan’s strikes on alleged terror camps. Afghan officials reported capturing multiple Pakistani military posts in Kandahar province, particularly in the Spin Boldak and Shorabak districts.
Both Pakistani and Afghan forces have engaged in cross-border operations over the past few days. Afghanistan retaliated against Pakistani Army posts and military centers along the Durand Line on February 27, responding to Islamabad’s airstrikes in Nangarhar and Paktika on February 21. In response to Afghanistan’s actions, Pakistan initiated ‘Operation Ghazab lil-Haq’ (Righteous Fury) following alleged unprovoked firing by Afghan forces across various border sectors. The Pakistan Air Force conducted airstrikes on military installations in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.
Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been on the rise in recent months, with accusations of cross-border attacks and the harboring of militant groups from both sides.
