Afghans Stand United: Hamid Karzai Urges Defiance Against Pakistan’s Aggressive Strikes on Kabul Amid Spiraling Tensions
Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has vehemently condemned what he labels as renewed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities, asserting that the Afghan populace will unite in response to any aggression. His remarks follow a statement from Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who declared an “open war” against the Taliban government in Afghanistan. This escalation comes after Pakistan executed airstrikes in Kabul and two other provinces, deemed as retaliation for an earlier cross-border attack from Afghanistan.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Karzai articulated his stance: “The Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia. The Afghans will defend their beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances and will respond to aggression with courage.” He argued that rather than perpetuating violence, Pakistan should adopt a more neighborly approach, emphasizing respect and civilized relations with Afghanistan.
Karzai, who served as the seventh president of Afghanistan from 2002 until 2014, described the ongoing military actions as a continuation of a troubling pattern of hostility from Islamabad. “Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings-those problems it has created itself,” he stated, underscoring the need for a policy shift from Pakistan.
In response to Karzai’s comments, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed that around 133 Afghan Taliban operatives were killed and over 200 injured in the airstrikes, which targeted militant strongholds in Kabul, Paktia, and Kandahar. He reported that 27 Taliban posts were destroyed, and nine more were seized.
Amid these tensions, the Afghan Ministry of National Defence announced that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations conducted along the Durand Line, which remains a contentious and unrecognized border between the two nations. According to their statement, this military action occurred as a countermeasure to what they termed a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani forces just days before.
“Recently, the Pakistani military, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here,” the ministry’s statement detailed. The Afghan forces reportedly targeted multiple military posts along the Durand Line, attributed to the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, and others, with confirmed casualties and the destruction of military assets.
Pakistan retaliated with what they called Operation “Ghazab Lil Haq,” aiming at the Taliban government. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office confirmed the casualties and losses incurred by the Taliban during these operations. Reports suggest Pakistani forces executed strikes across various border areas, destroying Taliban posts and capabilities.
The ongoing conflict represents a significant escalation of military actions and heightened tensions between the two neighboring countries, prompting calls for diplomatic dialogue and resolution. As both sides continue to assert their positions, the potential for further violence looms large, raising concerns about stability in the region.
As the international community watches closely, it remains to be seen whether the cycle of aggression can be broken and peace can be achieved in a region long troubled by conflict.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/afghans-will-defend-their-beloved-homeland-hamid-karzai-slams-pakistan-strikes-on-kabul-amid-open-war-tensions-11772173022111.html
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Publish Date: 2026-02-27 12:16:00
