Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday issued a warning to Pakistan, urging it to learn from the lessons of history following airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province earlier this week.
“Afghans will not forget the invasion of their territory, and Pakistani rulers should adopt a measured policy,” Muttaqi said during an event marking the 45th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
He warned Islamabad to “learn from the fate of the Soviet Union and the United States” and emphasized that Afghanistan will never tolerate invasions.
Muttaqi’s strong reaction came less than 48 hours after Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan that reportedly killed 46 people, including several women and children, on Tuesday night.
The airstrikes by Pakistani fighter jets on parts of the Barmal district in Paktika province marked the second instance this year of Islamabad directly targeting “civilian areas” on Afghan territory. In March, a similar airstrike killed eight people, including three children.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called for an immediate investigation into the incident. In a statement, UNAMA said it had received credible reports of civilian casualties and emphasized the responsibility of military forces to protect civilians.
“International law imposes a duty on military forces to take all necessary measures to avoid civilian harm, and it is imperative that an investigation is carried out to ensure accountability,” the statement read.
UNAMA urged all parties to prioritize civilian safety, stressing the importance of adhering to international norms in military operations.