[Today's Prayer] 'Clash with Pakistan' Afghanistan: "Ready to fight even if it takes 10 years"

Afghanistan has warned that while it remains open to the possibility of dialogue with Pakistan—with whom it has been in an armed conflict for over ten days—it is also prepared for a long-term war.

According to EFE news and other sources on the 9th (local time), Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, the Afghan Defense Minister, stated in a recent interview with the local outlet ToloNews that the Taliban leadership is preparing for a prolonged war with Pakistan and is ready to fight even if it takes ten years.

He issued a warning saying, "If Kabul is attacked, Islamabad will also be attacked," and added, "Do not think that you can kill people in Kabul and destroy the city while remaining safe yourselves."

(Omitted)

Minister Mujahid claimed that Pakistan wants an Afghan regime that is economically dependent and militarily weak, stating that this is unacceptable.

He urged his citizens to unite, saying, "Pakistan wants to establish a weak government in Afghanistan to use dependency as a means of pressure whenever they wish."

However, Minister Mujahid reaffirmed that the door for dialogue remains open, despite Pakistan showing no interest in the ceasefire negotiations previously mediated by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

"The Afghan people and the regime do not want war with Pakistan," he said. "We do not want hostility and hope all issues are resolved through dialogue."

As the armed conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues for over ten days, casualties among soldiers from both countries continue to rise.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the death toll for Afghan soldiers has risen to 527, with 755 injured. Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban regime claimed that 250 Pakistani soldiers have died and more than 100 were injured.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated that 56 Afghan civilians have died, half of whom were children.

Additionally, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), this conflict has resulted in 115,000 displaced persons in Afghanistan and 3,000 in Pakistan.

The conflict began when Pakistan first attacked the bases of extremist militant groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on the 22nd of last month, followed by Afghanistan launching retaliatory airstrikes four days later.

The Pakistani government claimed it took retaliatory measures after determining that a series of recent bombings in its country were carried out by militant groups acting on instructions from forces based in Afghanistan.

Previously, in October of last year, the Pakistani military launched airstrikes on Kabul targeting TTP leadership, and more than 70 people were killed on both sides as the Afghan Taliban launched retaliatory attacks.

Source: Naver News

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, 'This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'" (Luke 24:45-47)

Heavenly Father, we hear the news of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where armed conflict has lasted for more than ten days, yet both countries are still preparing to fight and gearing up for a long-term war.

Please have mercy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, who continue to kill children and soldiers by attacking and retaliating against each other, yet refuse to stop the fighting.

They say the door for dialogue is open, but they continue to attack and retaliate to get what they want. In the name of Jesus, please break the bonds of death.

Open the humble hearts of the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan, help them understand God's Word, and let them rise as nations that delight in doing God's will.

There are global and local churches praying for these two nations even in difficult circumstances. Hear their prayers, and through them, let the repentance that leads to the forgiveness of sins cover Pakistan and Afghanistan and bring them peace.

And so, let Pakistan and Afghanistan rise as nations that witness the Gospel of the Kingdom—which has set them free and led them to repentance—among all nations!