Afghan Minister Sends Strong Message Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan: We Are Not Afraid or Defeated

Kabul, July 1: Afghanistan’s Minister of Information and Culture, Shar Ahmad Haqqani, stated on Wednesday that the Afghan people are not intimidated by external pressures or military attacks. Kabul has already triumphed over adversaries equipped with superior weapons and modern technology.

According to a report by Ariana News, Haqqani spoke at a seminar aimed at enhancing the intellectual, ideological, and professional capabilities of journalists. He emphasized that Afghanistan cannot be intimidated by threats, as the nation has endured years of conflict.

He remarked, “To those who have ruthlessly bombed our children in their sleep, we want to say that we are not afraid of bomb blasts and hardships. We have defeated those who were far more powerful in terms of modern technology and weaponry.”

Haqqani asserted that despite ongoing challenges, the people of Afghanistan remain steadfast in their resolve. He declared, “We are not afraid, nor are we defeated.”

The minister’s statement comes at a time when tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been escalating for several months. There have been multiple instances of gunfire between the two nations, raising concerns over civilian casualties.

Previously, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense claimed that its forces conducted airstrikes on alleged ISIS-linked positions in Pakistan. According to the ministry’s statement, these strikes targeted locations in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces that were identified as ISIS-affiliated.

The ministry stated, “The Afghan Air Force carried out airstrikes on a joint center of ISIS and violent elements in the Saranan area of Pishin district in Balochistan. This center was used for conducting sabotage activities in Afghanistan and planning attacks. It also served as a hub for coordinating bomb blasts targeting Afghan citizens.”

The ministry further reported that in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kambar Khel area, the Afghan Air Force targeted an ISIS center. Additionally, another joint center of ISIS and violent elements was struck in the Garam Chashma area of Shah Saleem Valley in Chitral.

Based on available information, the ministry claimed that the attacks inflicted significant losses on ISIS and its supporters, resulting in a large number of casualties.