‘Afghans Will Defend Their Beloved Homeland’: Former President Karzai Condemns Pakistan Airstrikes

Kabul: Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Friday strongly condemned what he described as renewed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan cities, asserting that the Afghan people would respond to any aggression with unity and courage.

In a post on X, he said," 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. Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings--those problems it has created itself--but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan."

Karzai alleged that "the Pakistani aircraft once again bombed Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia," accusing Islamabad of continuing a pattern of military aggression. He said Afghans would defend their “beloved homeland with complete unity in all circumstances.”

The former President also criticised Pakistan's internal security policies, claiming that Islamabad could not free itself from the cycle of violence through cross-border strikes. "Pakistan cannot free itself from the violence and bombings--those problems it has created itself--but must change its own policy and choose the path of good neighborliness, respect, and civilized relations with Afghanistan," he added.

Earlier, the Ministry of National Defence of Afghanistan said that 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory operations carried out along the Durand Line on Thursday.

The 2,611 km (1,622 miles) border between the two countries, known as the Durand Line, has never been officially recognised by Afghanistan.

In a press release, the ministry said the action was launched at 8:00 PM on the 9th of Ramadan, corresponding to February 26, in response to what it described as a violation of Afghan territory by Pakistani military forces days earlier.

"A few days ago, the Pakistani military circles, with great audacity, violated Afghan territory, breached our borders, and martyred women and children here," the statement read.

The ministry said that Afghan forces targeted Pakistani military posts in the eastern and southeastern directions along the Durand Line, near the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, Kunar and Nuristan.

"In these retaliatory operations along the Durand Line, a total of 55 Pakistani soldiers were killed, two bases and 19 posts were captured," the statement said.

It further stated that the four-hour operation destroyed two Pakistani military bases and 19 posts, while soldiers fled from four other posts. The ministry also claimed that an enemy tank was destroyed and a large military transport vehicle was captured.

"During these operations, dozens of light and heavy weapons, ammunition, and military supplies were seized by Afghan forces," it said.

The statement added that eight Afghan fighters were killed and 11 others were injured during the operation. It also alleged that 13 civilians were injured in a missile attack on a refugee camp in Nangarhar.

"In this retaliatory operation, 8 of our Mujahideen achieved the high status of martyrdom, and 11 others were injured," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, in retaliation, Pakistan initiated the 'Ghazab Lil Haq' operation targeting the Afghan Taliban regime, as reported by ARY News.

Prime Minister's spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi confirmed that 133 Afghan Taliban fighters have been killed and over 200 wounded. The operations have also destroyed 27 Taliban posts and captured nine, as reported by Geo News.

Pakistani security forces carried out retaliatory operations across multiple border areas, including Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur districts, destroying several Afghan Taliban posts, ARY News reported.

Moreover, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes in parts of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia.

In a post on X, Mujahid said, "The cowardly Pakistani military has carried out airstrikes in certain areas of Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia; fortunately, there have been no reported casualties."