Karachi, MINA – The Afghan government announced Friday that it seeks to resolve ongoing issues with Pakistan through “dialogue and peace,” following two days of deadly border clashes between the neighboring countries, Anadolu Agency reports.
“We have repeatedly emphasized a peaceful solution and still want the problem to be resolved through dialogue,” Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a news conference in southern Kandahar city.
Mujahid reported that Pakistani aircraft were “still flying over Afghanistan” hours after Islamabad launched airstrikes on Kabul, Kandahar, and other cities early Friday. He stated that 13 Afghan troops were killed and another 22 injured in the clashes, with 13 civilians also wounded.
According to Mujahid, Pakistan has “shown no willingness to resolve issues through dialogue.” He further claimed that 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed and many others injured in the border clashes, with 19 posts destroyed.
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“We have 23 dead bodies of Pakistani soldiers, in addition to some captured, whose number we will announce later,” he claimed.
Mujahid rejected Islamabad’s accusations that the taliban/">Pakistani Taliban are using Afghan soil to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, saying Kabul remains committed to not allowing any individual or group to use its territory against any country.
“Pakistan’s internal war is entirely its internal matter and not a new issue,” he said. “Our foreign policy is based on mutual respect, and we do not wish to pursue a path of harm and enmity against anyone.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced fierce clashes since Thursday night. At least 29 people have been killed across the border, including four civilians, 12 Pakistani soldiers, and 13 Afghan troops.
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The violence began when Kabul announced Thursday it launched border attacks against Pakistan in response to airstrikes by Islamabad inside Afghanistan on Sunday that left many dead. Pakistan responded with heavy fire and fresh airstrikes in Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia provinces early Friday.
The escalating tensions have drawn international concern, with calls for restraint from various nations and organizations. The situation remains volatile as both countries navigate one of the most serious border confrontations in recent years.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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