RASC News Agency: Following a series of overnight drone strikes in the eastern provinces of Khost and Nangarhar, several former high-ranking Afghanistani officials have sharply condemned the attacks, describing them as reckless, destabilizing, and contrary to the interests of regional peace. Hanif Atmar, former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, expressed grave concern over the airstrikes, emphasizing that more than two decades of bloodshed should have taught Pakistan’s military establishment that such operations yield no sustainable outcome. “These brutal assaults not only fail to produce results but instead fuel extremism, bloodshed, and deeper instability,” Atmar said. He branded the attacks “barbaric” and stressed that Islamabad’s long-standing policy of distinguishing between so-called “good” and “bad” militants has been the root cause of Afghanistan’s enduring crisis. Atmar further warned that unless the Taliban regime learns from this bloody history, respects international commitments, and acknowledges the rights of Afghanistani citizens, the country risks once again becoming a breeding ground and sanctuary for extremist networks.
Abdul Salam Zaeef, a former Taliban diplomat, also directed strong criticism at Pakistan, calling the strikes a “flagrant act of aggression.” According to him, Islamabad is attempting to conceal its own failures by exporting its crises into Afghanistan. He argued that the attacks amount to a “shameless violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty,” further deepening distrust between the two neighbors. Ziaulhaq Amarkhil, former governor of Nangarhar, likewise denounced the drone campaign, labeling it “a direct invasion of Afghanistani soil.” He urged citizens to take a firm stand against what he described as Pakistan’s “persistent interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.” In a public statement, Amarkhil underlined that history has repeatedly shown that Islamabad has never been committed to a stable Afghanistan and has consistently pursued policies of manipulation and destabilization at Kabul’s expense.
Meanwhile, Kamal Naser Osuli, a former member of parliament, wrote in response that “Pakistan targets the innocent, while Afghanistani citizens once again become victims of foreign conspiracies.” In a rare move, even the Taliban’s so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had summoned Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul to lodge a formal protest. The Taliban statement claimed that at least three civilians were killed and seven others injured in the strikes. Critics, however, argue that the Taliban’s protest is hollow and performative, given that the regime itself has consistently failed to safeguard Afghanistani sovereignty, while allowing Pakistani-backed militant sanctuaries to thrive across the country.
Pakistan has yet to issue any official response regarding the strikes.
