Hibatullah Akhundzada: The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has been killed along with many senior Taliban commanders by airstrikes by Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s Air Force.
Hibatullah Akhundzada was leading the Taliban since 2016. He came to power with its winover US-backed forces in the 2001–2021 war.
Hibatullah Akhundzada-What’s Next?
The targeted killing of Hibatullah Akhundzada would not be taken lightly by the Afghanistan administration. Kabul is likely to retaliate harshly after the fatal attacks on Hibatullah Akhundzada.
According to media reports, Akhundzada was targeted in Kandhar. This was after an open war was declared by Pakistan’s Defence Minister with Kabul. Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi termed the strikes on Kabul a befitting response to open aggression of the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict
The benchmark KSE-100 Index at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) dropped more than 3300 points as soon as the opening bell happened.
Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran, has offered mediation to “facilitate dialogue” between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson of the Afghanistan government, confirmed that the Pakistani defence forces have initiated airstrikes in Kabul as well as Kandahar in the south and Paktia in the southeast.
In recent days, tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated greatly following cross-border military exchanges and airstrikes along the Durand Line.
Cross-border military exchanges and airstrikes have been confirmed by Pakistan but it described them more as actions against terrorism and not on the leadership of the Taliban. In contrast, the Taliban administration has accused the terror state and the banana republic Pakistan of violating the airspace of Afghanistan and has denied reports that its supreme leader was attacked.
Afghanistan would not take the death of Hibatullah Akhundzada lightly. It seems that Pakistan that is already internally attacked by the Balochistan Army would have some tough days ahead of itself.
