The US State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West, is scheduled to embark on a diplomatic journey to India and the UAE this week. His primary objective during this visit is to engage with officials from these partner nations in order to reinforce collaborative efforts in supporting the Afghan populace.
Expressing his intentions, West conveyed, "I will be undertaking visits to India and the UAE this week to engage with our partners regarding our joint endeavors aimed at assisting the Afghan people," as shared in a statement on a reputable platform.
This announcement comes closely following a significant event where Pakistan conducted airstrikes in the provinces of Khost and Paktia in Afghanistan, resulting in the tragic loss of lives, including innocent civilians such as children and women.
Reports indicate that the hostilities commenced around 7 am local time on Monday, with residents of Dand Patan forced to evacuate their residences due to rocket fire originating from Pakistan. Subsequent clashes ensued between Taliban forces and the Pakistani armed forces following the aerial bombardment by Pakistani forces in the aforementioned Afghan provinces.
The Taliban condemned these airstrikes as a blatant infringement of Afghanistan's sovereignty, as reported by Afghanistan-based TOLO News.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Office defended its actions, asserting that the airstrikes were conducted as part of intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations targeting militants associated with the Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, a faction linked to various terrorist activities within Pakistan.
Responding to Pakistan's military actions, the Taliban retaliated by targeting Pakistani military installations along the Durand Line with heavy weaponry, as reported by Afghanistan's Khaama Press, citing the Taliban-led Ministry of Defence.
Amidst escalating tensions, the Taliban reiterated its readiness to defend Afghanistan's territorial integrity against any aggressive actions, as clashes erupted along the Durand Line between Taliban forces and Pakistani border guards, according to sources cited by Khaama Press.
Further aggravating the situation, Pakistani fighter jets purportedly violated Afghan airspace, conducting airstrikes on civilian residences in Bermel district of Paktika province and Sepera district of Khost province, according to reports by Khaama Press based on statements from the Taliban-led Ministry of Defence.
In a separate development, during a White House briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged the Taliban to prevent terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil. Reaffirming the US commitment, Jean-Pierre emphasized the resolve to prevent Afghanistan from reverting to a safe haven for terrorists posing a threat to the United States and its allies.
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