Afghanistan's Air Force Halts Operations Near Pakistan Border

Afghanistan's Air Force has suspended operations to liberate the Spin Boldak district from Taliban militants near the Pakistan border following a warning from Islamabad. According to TOLO News, a source from the Afghan government reported this on July 16.

The operation in Spin Boldak (Kandahar province) was halted due to the risk of intervention by the Pakistani Air Force. On the same day, Afghanistan's First Vice President Amrullah Saleh announced that Islamabad informed Kabul about the possibility of using combat air forces if Afghan troops attempted to push the Taliban out of the Spin Boldak checkpoint.

Pakistan denied these reports on July 16. "Contrary to the claims made by Afghanistan's Vice President, the Pakistan Air Force has never communicated anything to Afghanistan's Air Force," stated a message on the Facebook page of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. The department clarified that Kabul had notified Islamabad about intentions to conduct air operations in the Chaman area near the border with Pakistan.

Pakistan has strongly reacted, asserting its right to act within its territory against the Afghan government, even though military operations so close to the international border are generally not permitted under international practice. On July 14, it was reported that the Taliban had captured the main crossing point between Spin Boldak and Chaman in Kandahar province, as reported by TASS.