NEW DELHI: The
Taliban
in
Afghanistan
launched heavy weapons at
Pakistan military posts
near its border following two
airstrikes
by
Islamabad
that killed 8 people, including 5 women and 3 children.
The strikes come a day after Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation following the deaths of seven soldiers, including two officers, in a terrorist attack on a security forces’ post in North Waziristan on Saturday.
Shocking: At least 7 soldiers killed as suicide bombing blow up Pakistan military base
"At around 3am, Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan," said Afghan interim government spokesperson
Zabihullah Mujahid
.
Paktika province
is located near Pakistan’s South Waziristan district while Khost is situated near North Waziristan.
"The Taliban strongly condemns the attacks and describes these as non-serious actions and violation of Afghanistani territory ... Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for their problems and failure to control violent incidents. Such acts can lead to dire consequences which will not be in control of Pakistan," said Mujahid.
Taliban warns of 'very bad consequences'
Pakistani government and security officials say terror attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and launched from Afghan soil.
The Afghan Taliban have denied that they allow their territory to be used by militants.
"Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence, and problems in its own territory," Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said in the statement.
"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control," he added.
Taliban backing terror, says Pak army
The Pakistan military, however, seems determined to rout out militant groups holed up near the Pakistan-Afghan border. It said that the recent wave of "terrorism" in Pakistan has the "full support and assistance of Afghanistan".
It added that the increase in "terrorism" incidents in Pakistan was due tot the "help of Afghan Taliban and supply of modern weapons".
(With inputs from agencies)
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