https://arab.news/7mqnz

Airstrikes inside Afghanistan by Pakistan air force jets this week have caused deep concern and anxiety in the entire region. Bilateral relations were strained before the attacks on the eastern provinces of Khost and Paktika, but a new dimension has been added to the worsening relations between the two neighbors now.

The targets were alleged safe heavens of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant outfit accused of being involved in a number of attacks inside Pakistan. The TTP as a matter of fact is only operating with volunteers and has lost many of its commanders. But it still has the capability of hitting targets even with the ever dwindling human and material resources it has at its disposal.

The Afghan Taliban argue that they have no connection with the attacks and that they would not deliberately allow or encourage any outfit to launch strikes against Pakistan using their territory. They claim that upon their seizure of power two years ago, the police and the army disintegrated. The Taliban volunteers— untrained and poorly equipped are now guarding the mountainous........

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