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Kabul: Tensions have heightened along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with both nations carrying out cross-border attacks across the Durand Line. Afghanistan has a complicated history with Pakistan. While Pakistan welcomed the Taliban in Kabul as a natural ally, the Taliban government is proving to be less cooperative than Pakistan had hoped. The current Talibani regime is trying to align itself with the nation’s rhetoric as they are trying to form a ‘government’ as a metamorphosis from a fighting group. The regime is also trying to forge relations beyond heavy reliance on Pakistan, according to Al Jazeera.
Earlier on December 29, Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed Moscow’s concern over escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and called for restraint from both sides. Russia’s unexpected intervention in the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict marks a significant turn of events, sparking growing concerns about what is causing Putin to feel increasingly threatened by the unfolding situation.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, expressed concern over the escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, highlighting that both military personnel and civilians are being affected by the conflict. She urged all parties to exercise restraint and pursue constructive dialogue to resolve their differences peacefully.
“Moscow is concerned over the escalation of tensions on the Pakistani-Afghan border, where not only the military but also civilians perish in shootouts,” Zakharova was quoted as saying, according to the Russian news agency TASS. Furthermore, she said, “We are calling on the sides involved to show restraint and engage in constructive dialogue, aiming to peacefully resolve all differences.”
The statement comes in the wake of a series of violent clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Tensions escalated earlier this month after Pakistani airstrikes hit a refugee camp in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province. As per the Taliban, the strikes resulted in 46 fatalities, including women and children.
In what appeared to be a retaliatory move, the Taliban attacked Pakistani border posts in the Upper Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday. Pakistani media reported that the assault claimed the life of one soldier and left 11 others injured.
In addition, tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have been building for some time, fuelled by the ongoing presence of TTP militants in Afghanistan. While Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harbouring these militants, the Taliban insists it is not collaborating with the group.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the use of Afghan soil by militants for cross-border attacks, particularly in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the issue last week, urging the Afghan government to take decisive action against the TTP, emphasising that attacks from Afghan soil were a “red line” for Pakistan. He also stated that while Pakistan is willing to engage in talks with Kabul, dialogue cannot occur alongside ongoing attacks.
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