Islamabad: Pakistan Declares War Against Taliban Amid Escalating Tensions with Afghanistan

In a decisive move amidst rising tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared war against the Taliban. He vowed to dismantle extremist groups, asserting that this step is essential for Pakistan's progress.

Sharif's remarks came as Pakistan accused Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kabul. “For Pakistan to move forward, the Taliban must be dismantled, and terrorism must be eradicated,” he stated. The Prime Minister called for political and military unity to confront the extremist group, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to counter terrorism. His comments followed a series of violent incidents along the Afghanistan border.

According to the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan carried out a suspected attack on December 24 targeting TTP positions in Afghanistan, resulting in 46 deaths. The Afghan Taliban condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, while local residents reported civilian casualties, including women and children. “Those killed were all women, children, and ordinary people. None of them were Taliban,” a resident stated. Another resident echoed similar sentiments, saying, “I urge Pakistan to stop oppressing us. They killed our mothers and sisters.”

In retaliation for the December 24 attack, the Afghan Taliban reportedly destroyed several Pakistani military posts, killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers. The incident underscores the growing hostilities between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban as Islamabad grapples with the escalating threat posed by the TTP. Reports indicate that TTP, with its goal of toppling the government to establish a Sharia-based emirate, has been responsible for over 1,200 attacks in Pakistan in recent years, significantly destabilizing the country’s security framework.

As Pakistan intensifies its efforts to counter the TTP, concerns are mounting about the potential for full-scale war between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban. The international community has urged restraint and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing the need to avoid further escalation.