KABUL: The Afghan Taliban government’s Defense Minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, said late Saturday night that cross-border operations by Afghan forces in Pakistan have been halted after successfully striking their intended targets.
In a statement issued, Mujahid said that Afghanistan’s armed forces carried out “successful retaliatory operations” against Pakistani security posts along the Durand Line.
He added that the operations were conducted in response to repeated violations of Afghan territory and recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil a few days earlier.
“These operations were stopped after hitting their designated targets during the night between Saturday and Sunday,” the minister said. “However, if there are further attacks or violations of Afghan territory, the Afghan armed forces are prepared to defend our borders and respond decisively to any such action.”
The remarks come after intense cross-border exchanges of fire between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops on multiple points along the Durand Line during the night of Saturday and Sunday. Pakistani military sources confirmed the attacks and claimed to have responded strongly.
