Pakistan attacks Afghanistan again: Breaks ceasefire, targets civilians

Conflict has erupted again between Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to AFP news agency, Pakistani troops opened fire in the Spin Boldak area of ​​Afghanistan around 5 p.m. on Thursday.

An Afghan military source told the news agency that Pakistani troops targeted civilians with heavy weapons. At present, information on casualties is not available. According to some media reports, Afghanistan also retaliated.

This clash occurred at a time when the third round of peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place in Turkiye on Thursday. The two sides signed a ceasefire in Qatar on October 19, but the second round of talks held in Turkiye last week ended without any agreement. Today's talks are also being conducted under the mediation of Turkiye and Qatar.

Pakistan stated that if the talks fail to resolve the issue, they will respond with full force.

ISI Chief Lieutenant General Asim Malik is leading the peace talks on behalf of Pakistan, while Intelligence Chief Abdul Haq Wasiq, Deputy Interior Minister Rahmatullah Najib, and spokesperson Suhail Shaheen are participating on behalf of the Taliban.

Pakistan's clear stance is that it will not tolerate any terrorist activity against it from Afghan soil, and that the TTP must cease harboring.

Turkey had stated in the previous round that the ceasefire would continue and be monitored, with violations punished. A Pakistani military spokesman has warned that if the talks fail to resolve the issue, Pakistan reserves the right to take action and will respond with full force to any attack.

The two-day talks are expected to lead to steps to open the border and curb terrorism.

Pakistan bombed Kabul

The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan began on October 9 when Islamabad attacked Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases in Kabul. Afghans blame Pakistan for border disputes and airspace violations.

The root of the dispute between the two countries is the Durand Line, a line drawn between India and Afghanistan during the British era. It divides the traditional lands of the two countries, and the Pashtuns on both sides have never accepted it.

Deadly exchanges of fire broke out between the two sides at at least seven locations along the Durand Line. Both sides claimed heavy losses. According to Reuters, Pakistan said it killed more than 200 Afghan Taliban and their allies, while Afghanistan claimed 58 Pakistani soldiers.

The Pakistani attack killed three cricketers.

Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Afghanistan's Paktika province on October 18. Seventeen people were killed in this attack, including three Afghan cricketers.

According to local media reports, these attacks took place in residential areas of the Urgun and Barmal districts. A 48-hour ceasefire was previously in place between the two countries on Wednesday, October 15th, which ended at 6 p.m. Friday. An agreement was reached to extend it. However, Pakistan attacked just hours later.