'Peace Mediator' Pakistan Exposes Fault Lines Again, Killing 11 Children In Fresh Strikes On Afghanistan

Pakistan launched new airstrikes targeting Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people and wounding 14 others. Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced the airstrikes, which he said targeted the Afghan provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika. He said the strikes killed 11 children, one woman and one elderly man. The henious attack came at a time when Islamabad is mediating peace talks between US and Iran.

"The invading army of dark night's Pakistan once again violated the sanctity of Afghanistan, bombing civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika," the spokespoerson wrote on social media platform, X.

"As a result, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were martyred, and 14 other women and children were wounded. We strongly condemn this humanitarian crime and aggression," he added.

There was no immediate acknowledgment of the strikes from Pakistan.

Pakistan and Afghanistan had been embroiled in months of deadly fighting that killed hundreds of people since late February, when Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack on Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants that carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. The group is separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban, which has ruled Afghanistan since it seized power in the country in 2021 amid the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops. Kabul denies the charge.

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Pakistan army's double standards

Pakistan has unexpectedly emerged as a mediator in the escalating US-Iran conflict, leveraging its diplomatic ties, according to reports, while its own ongoing war with Afghanistan remains unresolved despite several attempts at arbitration by other nations in the region.

Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has capitalised on his warming relations with White House and Pakistan's longstanding ties with regional powers like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkiye to drive this effort. Islamabad's urgency stems largely from necessity to enhance global relevance after recent controversies, as well as securing economic leverage amid the Middle East instability.

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Pakistan's eagerness to mediate in the US-Iran war, despite its ongoing conflict with Afghanistan, stems from urgent strategic, economic, and reputational needs. This move allows Islamabad to project itself as a responsible global player amid domestic and regional crises. General Munir and PM Shehbaz Sharif have pitched Islamabad as a neutral venue, earning apparent nods from Trump, to reclaim relevance after conflicts with India, Iran, and now Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agency)

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