Sami Sadat, the former commander of Afghanistan’s Special Operations Forces, has condemned the Taliban’s reported drone strikes on areas inside Pakistan, describing them as an escalation of tensions between the two sides.
In a post on X on Friday, Mr. Sadat stated that such attacks could increase the risk of a broader Pakistani military response and have significant security consequences for Afghanistan.
He emphasized that the Taliban lacks both the capability and the willingness to protect Afghan civilians from the potential repercussions of these actions, warning that any escalation of hostilities could place ordinary citizens at serious risk.
His remarks came after the Taliban’s Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that its forces had conducted airstrikes the previous night against facilities allegedly linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
In a statement, the Taliban Ministry of Defense said that Afghanistan would not allow any threat to emerge against the country’s security and stability and would use all available means to counter such threats.
However, Sadat argued that such positions could further inflame tensions between Kabul and Islamabad and increase the likelihood of retaliatory military action by Pakistan.
He also claimed that the Taliban’s support for groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda in recent years has contributed to greater instability in Afghanistan and negatively affected the security of millions of Afghan citizens.
The former commander of Afghanistan’s Special Operations Forces called on Pakistan to exercise restraint and take all necessary measures to prevent civilian casualties.
Sadat further wrote that the people of Afghanistan should not be forced to bear the consequences of what he described as the Taliban’s “dangerous and irresponsible” decisions and actions, stressing that the protection of civilian lives must remain a priority for all parties involved.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has rejected the Taliban’s claim that it carried out drone strikes on Pakistani territory. The Fact-Checking Division of Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that terrorist camps, including those belonging to ISIS and several other armed organizations, are operating in Taliban-controlled areas of Afghanistan and are being managed from within those territories.
So far, Taliban officials have not issued an official response to Pakistan’s latest reaction or to Sami Sadat’s remarks.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
