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Afghanistan’s Taliban government has accused Pakistan of violating Kabul’s “sovereign territory”, describing it as an “unprecedented, violent, and provocative act”.<\/p>\n
The allegation comes after two loud blasts were heard in the city late on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Pakistan had also bombed a civilian market in the border province of Patika, in Afghanistan’s south-east, the Taliban Defence Ministry said in a statement on Friday. Locals there told the BBC’s Afghan service that a number of shops had been destroyed.<\/p>\n
Pakistan has neither confirmed nor denied that they launched an attack inside Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
However, during a press conference held in the city of Peshawar on Friday, a top general alleged Afghanistan was being used as a “base of operation for terrorism against Pakistan”. <\/p>\n
“To safeguard Pakistani lives and properties, what measures need to be taken will be taken,” General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry added.<\/p>\n
Pakistan has long accused the Afghan Taliban of permitting the Pakistan Taliban, also known as the TTP, to operate from their land. The Taliban government have always denied this.<\/p>\n
Rumours had circulated that the blasts in Kabul were part of a targeted attack on the TTP’s leader, Noor Wali Mehsud.<\/p>\n
In response, the TTP released an unverified voice note from Mehsud saying he was still alive.<\/p>\n
Exactly what happened is unclear; BBC Afghan’s correspondent saw no signs of an explosion in the suspected location of the blasts on Friday, but did report a heavy Taliban presence and mobile checkpoints.<\/p>\n
The Taliban Defence Ministry warned in its statement that, should the situation become worse, “the consequences will be attributable to the Pakistani army”.<\/p>\n
However, the Taliban’s foreign minister – who is currently in the Indian capital Delhi – said they wanted to maintain good relations with Pakistan.<\/p>\n
“Pakistan should not repeat this mistake,” Amir Khan Muttaqi told a select group of 16 male journalists from Indian media. “Our issues can be solved by negotiation not by war.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n