Pakistan’s President Says Afghan Taliban Forces Crossed A ‘red Line’ With Drone Attacks On Civilians

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan’s president connected Saturday warned neighboring Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that it had “crossed a reddish line” by launching drone attacks connected civilian areas successful Pakistan and said nan management successful Kabul had brought “grave consequences upon itself.”

The connection by Asif Ali Zardari was nan latest successful what has go nan deadliest fighting yet betwixt nan 2 neighbors. The cross-border clashes, which erupted precocious past month, person shown nary signs of abating contempt efforts by China and Turkey to agent a ceasefire.

Pakistan said that its forces intercepted nan drones launched Friday but that falling debris injured 2 children successful nan metropolis of Quetta and 2 group elsewhere successful nan country.

On Friday, nan Afghan Taliban authorities accused Pakistan of conducting airstrikes successful Kabul, nan country’s capital, and different areas successful eastbound Afghanistan, saying astatine slightest six civilians were killed and 15 others were injured.

Hours later, Kabul claimed its aerial unit responded by targeting subject installations adjacent Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, and successful northwestern Pakistan.

Pakistan denied targeting civilians, saying its operations are focused connected Pakistani Taliban militants and their support networks. Islamabad has referred to nan conflict arsenic an “open war,” adding to concerns among nan world organization astir location stableness arsenic nan U.S.-Israeli warfare pinch Iran has engulfed nan Middle East and beyond.

Afghan authorities spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that Pakistani craft besides struck substance depots belonging to nan backstage hose Kam Air adjacent nan airdrome successful nan confederate metropolis of Kandahar, which he said supplies civilian and United Nations flights.

Pakistan accuses nan Afghan Taliban authorities of allying pinch its archrival, India, and harboring Pakistani militant groups — chiefly nan Pakistani Taliban — that transverse nan porous, volatile separator betwixt nan 2 countries to shape attacks against Pakistani forces. Kabul denies harboring militant groups.

On Friday, a roadside explosive targeting Pakistani constabulary killed 7 officers successful nan northwestern territory of Lakki Mawat.

Zardari denounced nan authorities successful Kabul.

“While nan Afghan violent authorities seeks negotiations pinch our friends countries, it crossed a reddish statement by attempting to target our civilians,” he said.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said Saturday connected X that its defense forces on nan separator successful nan eastbound provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar captured a Pakistani station and killed 14 Pakistani soldiers. In Islamabad, Pakistan’s Information Ministry said nan declare was baseless.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, said that nan “Afghan Taliban [is] spending much clip weaving fantasies” than it is getting free of “terrorist organizations enjoying Afghan Taliban authorities hospitality.”

He said connected X that specified propaganda would not unit Pakistan to extremity its counter-terrorism operations. “Only nan extremity of coercion from Afghan ungraded to Pakistan will,” he said.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi connected Friday urged a serene solution of nan Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute, informing that nan usage of unit worsens tensions and threatens location stability. His remarks were reported Saturday by China’s charismatic Xinhua News Agency, which said Wang had spoken pinch Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Wang said China’s typical envoy is shuttling betwixt nan 2 countries successful an effort to beforehand restraint and promote a ceasefire. Muttaqi said Afghanistan seeks location bid and does not want a subject conflict, adding that speech remains nan only solution and urging China to play a greater role.

A Qatari-mediated ceasefire successful October concisely reduced tensions, but consequent talks successful Turkey grounded to nutrient a lasting agreement.

Ahmed and Qahar constitute for nan Associated Press and reported from Islamabad and Kabul, respectively. AP writer Kanis Leung successful Hong Kong contributed to this report.