Pak passes off as TTP cadre the women, children it killed in Afghanistan
tacks were done at Spera, Khost and Sheltan, Kunar, both which are located well within the Afghanistan side of the Durand Line that separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. Refuting the claims made by the Pakistan Army that drones and not aircraft were used to successfully take out TTP commanders, Khorasani said that no TTP commander was killed in the attack.
“There is no truth in this claim of Pakistan. The top leadership of the TTP is leading the Mujahideen on the independent belt of tribal areas (in Pakistan). We are not based on Afghan soil,” he said.
As per sources-based information that was carried by the Pakistan media, the drone attack was “successful” and the TTP suffered heavy losses. According to these reports, the TTP cadre had cordoned off the area in order to hide the killing of its commanders, while not allowing even the Afghanistan Taliban to enter the area.
Confirming that the Pakistan Air Force had crossed into Afghanistan airspace, former Taliban and now government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the Pakistani attack on Afghan soil while calling it a “cruel” exercise that will pave way for enmity between Afghanistan and Pakistan, while adding that they were using all options to prevent
repetitions (of such attacks).
Last Saturday, hundreds of civilians came out on the streets of Khost, while chanting anti-pakistan slogans, accusing it of killing children and civilians. According to TTP spokesperson Khorasani, they have not held talks with the Afghan Taliban in this regard.
Pakistan’s recent action has come after the TTP announced the first ever launch of their spring offensive— “Al-badr” from 2 April. This came after ceasefire talks
between the TTP and the Pakistan Army collapsed. In an exclusive interview to The Sunday Guardian in January, the TTP chief, Noor Wali Mehsud had stated that the talks had collapsed after the Pakistan Army, which initiated the talks, reneged on its promises. According to pro-pakistan Army resources, the TTP in April alone carried out 20 attacks on the Pakistan military killing 30 Army officials. In 2021, the TTP had claimed 282 attacks.