The Facts
A Taliban-appointed police spokesperson stated Monday that at least three people were killed and seven wounded after an explosion at a hotel in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost.
Afghan residents and refugees from Pakistan's northern Waziristan region — a militant stronghold located just across the border — were supposedly among the victims, but authorities provided no details about them.
The Spin
Narrative A
Years of Pakistani hostility on the Afghanistan border in pursuit of strategic dominance has taken its toll on the security of many surrounding regions. Afghanistan's lodging of complaints against Pakistan's behavior and culpability for the regional insecurity has had little effect. Kabul has little choice now but to meet hostility with similar aggression.
Narrative B
Afghanistan is unwilling help to stop the flow of militants and ammunition saturating Pakistan's western border. Domestic troubles now seen in Afghanistan are a consequence of this attitude, and Pakistan's attempts to help broker engagement between the Islamic Emirate and the rest of the world have fallen on deaf ears. The Taliban cannot continue to play games with the safety and security of Pakistan, who in return hold a right to respond appropriately.
