Tel Aviv, Feb 27 (NationPress) Pakistan is not targeting militants in Afghanistan; rather, it is instilling fear among civilians and violating Afghan sovereignty. This reality, as revealed in a recent report, highlights the hypocrisy of Islamabad, which mourns its losses while simultaneously launching attacks on Afghan schools and residences.

The international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, is urged to intervene, ensuring investigations and demanding reliable intelligence-sharing regarding Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, as the report emphasized this week.

On Friday, Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat announced that the Afghan Air Force conducted airstrikes targeting Pakistani military sites in Islamabad, Nowshera, Jamrud, and Abbottabad.

Fitrat indicated that these strikes were a direct response to the Pakistani military's air assaults in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia the previous night.

"The Air Force of the Ministry of National Defence executed airstrikes on a military camp near Faizabad city in Islamabad, Pakistan, as well as at an army base in Nowshera, Jamrud military colony, and Abbottabad today at around 11:00 am," Fitrat disclosed on X.

He added, "These airstrikes were successfully carried out, targeting critical military positions, centers, and installations of the Pakistani army in those areas. They were executed in retaliation for the airstrikes conducted by the Pakistani military in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia last night."

Earlier this week, in the 'Times of Israel', Michael Arizanti, a Middle East Affairs expert, noted that the February 22 Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan illustrate a shameful pattern, with Pakistan disguising aggression as self-defense and inflicting casualties on innocent Afghan civilians.

“Let’s be clear — this isn’t about targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). It’s a blatant attack on Afghan civilians, a violation of sovereignty that must cease immediately. In this geopolitical chess game, India’s principled stance stands out as a beacon of regional integrity," he asserted.

Arizanti pointed out that during the holy month of Ramadan, a period meant for contemplation and peace, Pakistani jets invade Afghan territories such as Nangarhar and Paktika, striking what Islamabad claims are “militant hideouts.” Pakistani officials assert that 70-80 terrorists were neutralized in “intelligence-based, selective” operations, but the evidence supporting these claims remains elusive.

“No independent verification has emerged — none. Instead, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) presents a grim picture: at least 13 civilians killed, and seven more injured, including women and children. The Afghan Red Crescent Society reports 18 fatalities in Nangarhar alone. Taliban officials and witnesses place the death toll above 20, with bodies still buried under debris,” said Arizanti.

According to Arizanti, Afghanistan has filed a complaint with the UN Security Council, seeking investigations and an end to Pakistani strikes, while the Taliban vowed measured retaliation. The UNAMA has called for civilian protection under international law but has refrained from making a direct condemnation.

In light of the muted global response, India has stepped forward with moral clarity. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the Pakistani strikes against Afghanistan as a “blatant violation,” leading to civilian deaths during Ramadan, and accused Islamabad of “externalizing internal failures.”

Arizanti emphasized that India’s position is not merely opportunistic; it is a strategy based on principle. “Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, India has provided aid, technology, and diplomatic support — alarming Pakistan, which fears anti-Pakistan activities from Afghan territory. India’s condemnation isolates Islamabad, strengthens ties with Kabul, and counters influence in Central Asia. In a nuclear-tinged rivalry, this is a smart move for stability,” he concluded.