Pakistan carried out an airstrike in Afghanistan‘s capital Kabul on Thursday night coinciding with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s maiden India visit, media reports said.
The airstrike took place at 10 pm local time.
The Pakistani jets launched an attack on Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Kabul escalating the confrontation with Afghanistan, which is currently under the Taliban regime.
The strike, which took place near Shahid Abdul Haq Square, was aimed to eliminate TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud, who is leading the organisation since 2018, reports said.
An audio message, which surfaced, claimed Mehsud is safe, denying any report that asserted his death.
Multiple witnesses have reported the sound of a fighter jet, two massive explosions and subsequent automatic gunfire.
Pakistan has been accusing Afghanistan of funding and arming TTP for a long time.
The attack is significant as it took place when the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan significantly deteriorated and India has ramped its terms with the Taliban regime, which took over the country in 2021.
Muttaqi, who held bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is on a nine-day trip to India beginning on October 9.
There have been several recent attacks by the TTP on Pakistani security forces in the past.
The most recent attack was on October 7 when TTP militants carried out an ambush on a paramilitary convoy.
The attack involved roadside bombs followed by gunfire.
Eleven Pakistani soldiers were killed (including two officers) while 19 militants were also killed in ensuing operations.
The attack on Kabul occurred within 24 hours of Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s stern warning to Taliban.
(With inputs from IBNS)
