Afghan Minister Warns Pakistan Patience Should Not Be Seen as Weakness
KABUL, Afghanistan — A senior Taliban official warned Pakistan that Afghanistan’s restraint in the face of recent cross-border strikes should not be interpreted as weakness, saying Kabul would respond under what he called appropriate conditions.
Nida Mohammad Nadeem, Afghanistan’s Minister of Higher Education, said the country’s patience amid repeated attacks by Pakistan does not signal retreat, according to local media reports on Wednesday.
He said Afghanistan’s resolve would remain intact despite the strikes, including a recent attack targeting Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan University in eastern Kunar province. Nadeem said the incident would not hinder the country’s scientific and academic progress.
“Patience should not be interpreted as weakness and the movement is capable of responding forcefully when necessary,” he said, adding that Taliban forces were forged through years of conflict and would defend their system.
The warning comes after at least seven people were killed and 75 others injured in strikes attributed to Pakistan that hit multiple locations in Kunar province on Monday, including the provincial capital Asadabad and the Sarkano district. Local officials said residential areas and the university campus were among the sites struck, with mortar rounds causing damage and panic among students and staff.
In response, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Kabul on Tuesday to protest the attacks. Officials handed over a formal letter accusing Pakistan of targeting civilian infrastructure along the Durand Line, including the university in central Kunar.
The ministry condemned the strikes as violations of Afghanistan’s airspace and territorial integrity, calling them contrary to international norms and a provocative escalation.
In a statement, Afghan authorities rejected claims that Kabul initiated the latest tensions and said the underlying causes of the conflict must be examined carefully.
Afghanistan also urged Pakistan to avoid further military action, warning that continued “irresponsible actions” could lead to consequences. Officials reiterated that the country reserves the right to defend its territory and its people. (Source: IANS)
