Pakistan’s military says it considers attacks on the positions of armed groups inside Afghanistan part of its “right to self-defence” and will continue operations against what it calls “terrorism originating from Afghanistan”.
In a statement issued after a meeting of senior military commanders in Rawalpindi, the Pakistani army accused the Taliban of allowing armed groups to operate and using them as an “instrument of India”. It said the Taliban would be held responsible for the consequences of such activities.
Pakistan has carried out a number of air strikes in parts of Afghanistan in recent weeks, including Kunar, Helmand, Kandahar, Paktia, Paktika and Khost.
The Taliban have described the attacks as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said civilians have been killed and wounded in some of the strikes.
