Pakistan sheds pretence, aids Taliban by thwarting Afghan air attack

In a development just falling short of direct involvement in the Afghan conflict, the Pakistan military on Thursday prevented an air attack on the advancing Taliban by warning Afghan air force fighter aircraft to back off or be shot down with missiles, reports senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah

New Delhi:Trust Pakistan to show its true colours so soon and take sides even before the advancing Taliban are yet to establish control in Kabul. On Thursday, the Pakistan military is reported to have prevented an impending air attack on the Taliban by the Afghanistan government forces by warning warplanes of the Afghan Air Force not to proceed any further, leading to abortion of the mission.

Amrullah Saleh, First Vice-President of Afghanistan, tweeted: “Pakistan air force has issued an 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. Pakistan air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas.”

The top official added that Afghan air force aircraft as far as 10 km from Spin Boldak was warned to “back off or face air-to-air missiles”.

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Three A29 Super Tucano aircraft had scrambled on a mission to attack Taliban positions near the Afghan-Pakistan international border at Spin Boldak, in southern Kandahar, a day after the Taliban established their control in the sensitive border area.

The Pakistan military acted based on the international rule that military aircraft should not venture to less than 18 km of the international border in pursuit of a military objective.

The A-29 is the most powerful fighter aircraft in the Afghan Air Force. Delivered by the US, the Afghan forces are believed to operate about 24 such aircraft.

Attack on Afghan-India Friendship Dam

On the other hand, in a significant development for India, the Taliban have mounted mortar attacks on the Salma Dam, also known as the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, the Afghan National Water Authority announced on Wednesday.

Incidentally, on Sunday, Afghan news agencies reported that the security forces had arrested a Pakistani national on Saturday on charges of destroying the Salma Dam.

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On June 4, 2016, the Salma Dam was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

Located in the remote upper reaches of the Harirod river in Herat province, the 42 MW dam with a capacity to irrigate 75,000 hectares of farmland, is a source of much-needed electric power and water for farming in the Chesht district.

A huge structure that is 107 meters high and 550 meters in length, with a water storage basin about 22 km long and 3 km wide, the dam has been funded and constructed by India.

Besides the Aghan Parliament in Kabul, the Salma Dam is the other landmark construction by India in Afghanistan.

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