Pakistan has warned Afghan forces on acting against Taliban: Afghanistan vice-president

Afghanistan’s Vice President Amrullah Saleh has accused the Pakistan Air Force of supporting the Taliban and warning the Afghan forces from acting against it.

“The Pakistan Air Force has issued official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force,” Amrullah Saleh said in a tweet late Thursday evening.

He added that the Pakistan Air Force is now “providing close air support to the Taliban in certain areas”. While Amrullah Saleh levelled these serious charges on the Pakistan Air Force, he did not substantiate his allegations with evidence.

Earlier in the day, Amrullah Saleh tweeted that the Afghanistan Army brigade defending the encircled Qala Naw, the provincial centre of Badghis province, tuned the town into a kill/trap zone for the invading Taliban.

“Today, the community elders were used by the Talibs to negotiate ceasefire so they could collect their mortal remains and leave,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, he wrote, “Also, our brave commandoes of 215 Corps re-captured Chakhansour district in Nimroz, killing all Talibs and re-taking 10 APCs that were lost last week. It is a matter of time. Afghanistan is too big for Pakistan to swallow. Too big.”

Afghan officials said government forces had pushed back the Taliban and were in control of the district. But civilians and Pakistani officials said the Taliban remained in control of the crossing.

“Wesh, which has great importance in Afghan trade with Pakistan and other countries, has been captured by the Taliban,” said a Pakistani security official deployed at the border area.

Officials in Chaman said the Taliban had suspended all travel through the gate.