Islamabad says policy toward Taliban unchanged amid ongoing exchange of accusations

ISLAMABAD: Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister, said Islamabad will maintain its current approach toward the Taliban following recent airstrikes on parts of Afghanistan. Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Chaudhry stated that the Taliban must abandon what he described as a “guerrilla mindset,” adding that their approach toward Pakistan differs from how they engage with other countries. Pointing to the deteriorating security situation, he blamed an “irresponsible neighbor and regime,” saying that while Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issues multiple decrees on issues such as women in a single day, there has been silence regarding the insecurity that Pakistan claims originates from Afghan territory. Amid rising violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan carried out airstrikes targeting areas in the Afghan provinces of Nangarhar, Paktika, and Khost. In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s spokesperson, claimed that Saturday night’s strikes on Barmal district in Paktika hit a school where 22 children were studying. According to him, one child was wounded and several classrooms and a mosque within the school compound were damaged. In remarks to Al Arabiya, Mujahid stressed that no armed individuals were present at the site and that only civilians were harmed. He also rejected allegations that Pakistan-linked militants are operating inside Afghanistan. Pakistani officials, however, said the strikes targeted hideouts of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Islamic State Khorasan Province, claiming that nearly 70 “terrorists” were killed. The Taliban described the strikes as “aggression and targeting of civilians,” alleging that more than 20 civilians, including women and children, were killed in Behsood district of Nangarhar. The Taliban’s Defense Ministry said it would respond “at an appropriate time.”