Taliban Forces Launch Retaliatory Attacks in Pakistan Following Bombing

The Taliban's Ministry of Defense announced that in response to bombings in Afghanistan by Pakistani aircraft, their forces have carried out retaliatory attacks on "several points" in Pakistan. According to a Reuters report, the statement released on Saturday, December 29, described the targets of these attacks as being "beyond the imaginary line" without specifically naming Pakistan. Afghan officials use the term "imaginary line" to refer to disputed borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Based on the Taliban's Ministry of Defense statement, "several points beyond the imaginary line" that served as "bases and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters" organizing and coordinating attacks on Afghanistan were targeted from southeastern Afghanistan. Enayatullah Khwarazmi, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Defense, did not consider the targeted areas as part of Pakistan's territory and noted that the attacks were on areas on the other side of the "imaginary line." For decades, Afghanistan has refrained from recognizing the "Durand Line" border with Pakistan. There has been no information released regarding potential casualties or the names of the areas targeted by the Taliban forces. The Pakistani military and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not yet responded to this news. Following the bombing of areas in Afghanistan by Pakistani aircraft last week, Taliban officials warned of retaliatory attacks, announcing that at least 46 people were killed due to nighttime airstrikes in the "Barmal" border area in eastern Afghanistan. Pakistan stated that it targeted hideouts of Islamist militants in border areas. The Pakistani airstrike occurred after Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan militants attacked a security post in South Waziristan bordering Barmal, killing 16 Pakistani security personnel. The new rulers have stated they do not want Syria to fall into the hands of the Taliban like Afghanistan did. The Taliban accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes on a border area. Saudi Arabia has resumed its diplomatic activities in Afghanistan. The International Organization for Migration reports that millions of Afghans are in a state of displacement.