Pakistan has vowed to respond to future terrorist attacks launched from Afghanistan with overwhelming military force after deadly cross-border clashes over the weekend, with the conflict setting the stage for prolonged hostilities between Islamabad and the Taliban regime.
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Analysts say the fighting, sparked by retaliatory Pakistani air strikes against insurgents in Kabul and the eastern Afghan province of Paktika on Thursday, is unlikely to break into an all-out war, but a diplomatic solution remains elusive.
Pakistan’s political and military leadership has made clear its intention to avenge future high-casualty cross-border attacks by targeting the commanders and camps of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and ethnic Baloch separatists in Afghanistan.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said there would be “no compromise on Pakistan’s defence”.
“Every act of aggression will be met with a strong and effective response,” he added.
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Similarly, Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has vowed to respond militarily to Pakistani violations of its airspace, as it did on Saturday by opening fire on Pakistani forces guarding the border against TTP incursions.
