The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate has strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip, stating that the resumption of attacks by the “occupying regime” is against international human rights laws and also in conflict with fundamental human values.

In a statement, the Ministry once again called on the world, especially influential countries, to declare their strong support for the “oppressed” Palestinian people and take practical and serious measures to end the occupation.

“The Islamic Emirate continues to regard the issue of Palestine as a fundamental and common issue within the Islamic Ummah and considers their just struggle and legitimate resistance as a fixed right, offering its support,” the statement read.

As a result of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday at least 200 people, including women and children, were killed.

US Department of Defense (DOD) spokesman Sean Parnell said the Trump administration has an “obligation” to hold senior officials involved in the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan accountable. 

Addressing a press briefing on Monday, Parnell was asked whether the DOD would be firing or disciplining any remaining leadership directly involved in the withdrawal. 

“We’re in the process of figuring out what that investigation will look like,” Parnell stated. 

He said he had served in the military in Afghanistan and detailed how former President Joe Biden’s withdrawal had “horrified” him.

“I was horrified, in a lot of ways,” he said. 

“You think about how much time, and blood and treasure and American life that was lost in Afghanistan over 20 years, you think about that for a second — I’m 43 years old, and this country was at war in Afghanistan for 20 years.” 

“Almost half of my life, this country was at war in Afghanistan,” he said. 

“We bled the ground red in Afghanistan,” he said. “I watched my men do extraordinary things in support of a grateful nation and in support of a mission there, and to watch Afghanistan be surrendered in the way that it was, [it] was extremely difficult.”

“Will those people be held accountable?” Parnell continued. “I think we have an obligation both to the American people and to the warfighters who fought in Afghanistan to hold the leadership accountable in some way.” 

“Now, we don’t know what that looks like right now to hold the leadership of the Afghanistan withdrawal accountable,” he said. 

“If you have a private that loses a sensitive item, that loses night-vision goggles, and loses a weapon, you can bet that private’s going to be held accountable. The same and equal standards must apply to senior military leaders.”

Former Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCOS) Gen. Mark Milley was involved in planning the withdrawal. His security clearance was revoked by US President Donald Trump in January.

The second round of talks between Afghan and Pakistani jirga members to reopen Torkham border crossing reportedly ended on a “positive note” on Monday when Afghanistan’s delegation asked for a recess in order to get approval from higher authorities on Pakistan’s conditions. 

Pakistan media reported that the meeting lasted for about two hours and was held at the Customs Offices on the Afghan side of the border. 

Sources among the Pakistani delegation told Dawn that a detailed discussion was held between the two sides over the issue of construction of a controversial post, very close to the border at Zero Point on the Afghan side.

The Afghan side, they said, was told that any work by them regarding any change in the existing structure, close to the Zero Point border crossing, would be met with a stern response from Pakistan, Dawn reported.

Afghanistan however reportedly insists that the border be reopened without any conditions. However, Pakistan also wants the ‘no work on checkpost’ clause linked to a six-month ceasefire.

“We expressed our desire for a halt to hostilities between the two neighbouring countries with the Afghan side giving a firm assurance about permanently abiding by the agreed border protocols,” the sources said.

Torkham crossing was closed almost a month ago when Pakistan border officials opposed the reconstruction and renovation of a security check post on the Afghan side. 

Torkham, a key border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remained closed for the 25th day on Tuesday amid rising concerns among traders of both countries who have suffered enormous losses due to the closure. 

The crossing was closed on February 21 after escalation of tensions between the border forces on both sides. During subsequent exchanges of fire, three Afghan soldiers died while eight Pakistani paramilitary troops also sustained injuries.

Customs sources have said trade suspension is causing an estimated daily loss of $3 million in bilateral trade adding that over the first 20 days, approximately $60 million in trade was lost.

Torkham Border Crossing facilitates the daily movement of around 10,000 people to Afghanistan and is a key trade route between the two countries. Over 5,000 trucks, including those carrying perishable goods, are currently stranded, causing heavy financial losses.