Islamabad: – Two weeks ago, Pakistan was celebrating after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Claims were made in Pakistan that now it is Pakistan’s rule in Afghanistan. But in the last 24 hours, the Taliban have dealt two major blows to Pakistan. Three Pakistani soldiers and two civilians were killed in a shootout with Taliban militants on the Bajaur border. The Taliban has said it will not negotiate with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is challenging the Pakistani military, saying that the Pakistan government should resolve the issue through negotiations. This has provoked angry reactions from Pakistan, which has criticised the Taliban for betraying them.
Tensions have been reported in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for the past few days. Taliban militants have been threatening Pakistani troops stationed on the Waziristan-Bajaur border after taking over the control of Afghanistan. A video of a Taliban militant threatening to take over Pakistan soon after Afghanistan also has surfaced. But on Sunday, the Pakistani military announced that militants from Afghanistan had opened fire on its troops on the Bajaur border.
The Pakistani military said three soldiers were killed and two civilians were injured. It also stated that it had killed two or three militants in retaliation. The Taliban has not commented on the border firing. But a group within the Taliban has insisted that the Durand Line, which divides Afghanistan and Pakistan, is unacceptable.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid attacked Pakistan’s complaints about the Tehrik-i-Taliban. The Pakistani government and military should resolve the dispute through talks with Tehrik leaders. Mujahid said they would not comment on the argument. This has led to criticism from Pakistan of the Taliban’s support for Tehreek-e-Insaf’s anti-Pakistan activities. A few days ago, the Taliban released some prisoners from the Bagram airport jail. These included more than 600 Tehrik-i-Taliban militants. There was also outrage from Pakistan over this.
Meanwhile, after the Taliban shrugged off Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan’s military may take action against Tehrik-i-Taliban militants in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. This could escalate tensions on the Afghan-Pakistani border and could result in killing Taliban militants along with Tehrik members. Analysts claim that in such a scenario, it could lead to a clash between the Pakistani military and the Taliban.
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