Afghan Taliban’s drone attacks on civilians ‘crossed red line’, Pakistan warns
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says the administration in Kabul has brought ‘grave consequences upon itself’
Pakistan’s president on Saturday warned neighbouring Afghanistan’s Taliban government that it had “crossed a red line” by launching drone attacks on civilian areas in Pakistan and said the administration in Kabul had brought “grave consequences upon itself”.
The statement by Asif Ali Zardari was the latest in what has become the deadliest fighting yet between the two neighbours. The cross-border clashes, which erupted late last month, have shown no signs of abating despite efforts by China and Turkey to broker a ceasefire.
Pakistan said its forces intercepted the drones launched on Friday but that falling debris injured two children in the city of Quetta and two people elsewhere in the country.
On Friday, the Afghan Taliban government accused Pakistan of conducting air strikes in Kabul, the country’s capital, and other areas in eastern Afghanistan, saying at least six civilians were killed and 15 other were injured.
Hours later, Kabul claimed its air force responded by targeting military installations near Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, and in northwestern Pakistan.
Pakistan denied targeting civilians, saying its operations were focused on Pakistani Taliban militants and their support networks. Islamabad has referred to the conflict as an “open war” – adding to concerns among the international community about regional stability as the US-Israeli war with Iran has engulfed the Middle East and beyond.