Pakistan has carried out airstrikes targeting three positions in neighboring Afghanistan late on Tuesday night, and apparently the target was against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed group in Paktika province – the Taliban defense official warned of retaliation.

However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the country’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has remained silent over the airstrike so far.

But the Taliban spokesman said that the strikes occurred in the Barmal district, near Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in which 46 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives. He also confirmed that the casualties included those refugees who recently came to Paktiak from Waziristan of Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistan targeted four locations in Barmal district and said that six others were wounded in the attack.

Taliban called the airstrikes against international principles and clear aggression against Afghanistan.

Taliban defense ministry also coiffured the attacks and said that civilians had been targeted. Ministry spokesman Enayat Khowarazm said the Pakistani army bombed Barmal district, in which a number of children and other civilians were killed and injured.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan considers this barbaric act to be against all international principles and a clear aggression, and strongly condemns it. The Pakistani side should know that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem,” Khowarazam said.

Speaking to Harici, Khowarazam said that “Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered. We consider the defense of our territory as our inalienable right.”

Afghan Defense Minister vowed to retaliated Pakistan’s airstrikes that killed 46 people and wounded six others.

This is the second such incident this year in Afghanistan that came just hours as Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq is already in Kabul and met with top Taliban leadership.

Sadiq met with Interior and Foreign Ministries in Kabul, where both sides discussed issues related to the bilateral topics, including security and border issues. Is there any connection between Sadiq’s visit to Kabul and Pakistan’s airstrikes. What message Pakistan wants to deliver to the Taliban leadership at a time when its special envoy is already in Kabul meeting with Taliban leaders. And most importantly, what message will Sadiq leave when he departs Kabul back to Islamabad.

Pakistan apparently failed to handle the TTP issue through diplomatic channels and went to take military action.  

Pakistan has always used two tools against Afghanistan. On the one hand, they proceed with a diplomatic approach, but on the other hand, they have used intelligence to exert pressure. Pakistan’s recent action is a contradiction, but the reality is that the army makes this decision, not the diplomatic system.

Meanwhile, the Taliban’s diplomatic weakness has made the ground favorable for Pakistan’s military intervention and attacks. In order to defend such attacks, it is necessary to form a legitimate and popular system in Afghanistan.

Islamabad’s relations with the Taliban have gone through significant ups and downs in the past three years. During this period, the Pakistani army has repeatedly targeted what they believe to be the positions of the Pakistan’s Taliban TTP in Afghanistan.

The meetings of Pakistan’s special representative Sadiq with Taliban officials in Kabul were encouraging – but the attack of the Pakistani army in Paktika will have a very negative effect on his trip. Such measures are not the solution and both sides should end the tensions through dialogue.

Islamabad has repeatedly warned about the presence and use of TTP in Afghanistan against Pakistan’s security and has continuously emphasized that they have provided the Taliban with the necessary evidence that TTP is planning attacks from Afghanistan.

Now, however, it is believed that Pakistan is trying to impose diplomacy to force the Taliban to act against the TTP in Afghanistan, but the Taliban have always denied the presence and activities of the TTP inside Afghanistan.

Increasing attacks in Pakistan by TTP fighters since Taliban takeover

Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban government for harboring TTP, and also Islamabad claims that they carried out enormous cross-border attacks targeting security forces.

Last week, TTP claimed responsibility for killing at least 16 Pakistani forces in South Waziristan. After the attack, the Pakistan army said that TTP conducts its operation from Afghan sanctuaries, and the claim comes when the Taliban deny providing refuge to the TTP fighters.

During his briefing at the UNSC meeting last week, Usman Iqbal Jadoon said that thousands of TTP fighters have sought shelter in Afghanistan.

“The TTP, with 6,000 fighters, is the largest listed terrorist organisation operating in Afghanistan. With safe havens close to our border, it poses a direct and daily threat to Pakistan’s security,” Jadoon said at the UN briefing.

North Waziristan, a region bordering Paktika, where Pakistan conducted airstrikes against TTP fighters, has historically been a stronghold for different militant groups.

In response to a statement by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the newly established government in Damascus under the leadership of HTS issued a strong warning. Khamenei had commented, “Syrian youth have nothing left to lose. We foresee the emergence of a strong movement in Syria.” In his first public message since taking office, Asaad Hassan Shaybani, Foreign Minister of the Syrian interim government, emphasized Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Posting on his official X account, Shaybani called on Iran to respect the sovereignty and the will of the Syrian people. He stated, “Iran must respect the will of the Syrian people, the sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the country. We warn Iran to refrain from spreading chaos in Syria and hold it responsible for the consequences of recent statements.”

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking in Tehran, described the ongoing crisis in Syria as the result of foreign intervention. “A rebel group in Syria, with the planning and help of foreign powers, has used the weaknesses within the Syrian state to plunge it into chaos,” Khamenei remarked. Drawing parallels with Lebanon, he added, “Noting that Hezbollah emerged during the Lebanese civil war, we predict that a strong and honorable movement will emerge in Syria. Syrian youth, having nothing left to lose—their schools, universities, homes, and streets being unsafe—must mobilize with determination, stand against the architects of insecurity, and prevail over them.”

Following Hezbollah’s withdrawal from the war under a ceasefire agreement, the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria, and Iraqi militias’ decision to cease attacks against Israel, attention has shifted to the Houthis, who remain the only external force actively opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

While the United States (U.S.) and Israel prepared to launch a comprehensive operation against the Houthis, the Arab coalition, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, mobilized their forces. In northern Yemen, Saudi Arabia intensified artillery strikes against Houthi targets, including the city of Saada. Concurrently, forces loyal to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), directly affiliated with the UAE, launched attacks on Houthi forces in the Taiz region.

Just hours before these assaults, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for a forceful operation against the Houthis. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Forces Command (CENTCOM) revealed via its X account (formerly Twitter) that preparations were underway for attacks against the Houthis using the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier.

Since 31 October 2023, the Houthis have conducted direct attacks targeting Israel in response to the nation’s actions in Gaza. In addition to these strikes, they have seized commercial ships off Yemen’s coast—allegedly linked to Israeli companies—and attacked several vessels using drones and missiles.

As a result of these actions, many shipping companies have suspended operations in the Red Sea. On 18 December 2023, the United States announced the formation of a multinational maritime task force called Operation Welfare Guardian. This coalition, involving multiple nations, aims to secure global maritime trade endangered by Houthi activity. The U.S. and UK have also organized attacks on Houthi positions as part of this operation.

According to Haaretz, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Israel would deliver a “hard blow” to the Houthis. He emphasized plans to target Houthi strategic infrastructure and leadership, declaring, “We will do the same in Hodeidah and Sana’a as we did in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon against Heniyyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah.”

“We defeated Hamas, we defeated Hezbollah, we blinded Iran’s defense systems, and we disrupted their missile production capabilities,” Katz continued, adding that Israel would deal a severe blow to the Houthis. “Anyone who raises their hand against Israel will have their hand cut off. The long arm of the Israeli army will strike them, and they will face unprecedented retribution,” he threatened.

In a significant revelation, Katz also confirmed for the first time that Israel was behind the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Heniyyeh in Tehran. While Heniyyeh’s death had previously gone unclaimed, this acknowledgment marks a pivotal development.