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Pakistan launches strikes on Kabul and Kandahar
Pakistani military forces conducted airstrikes on Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, and the southern city of Kandahar in the early hours of Friday, according to government officials in Islamabad. The operation followed days of rising hostilities along the shared border.
Afghan Taliban claims retaliation after deleted post
The Afghan Taliban announced it had responded with attacks on Pakistani troops near the border, though its initial statement on X was later removed. Taliban officials alleged the strikes were in response to earlier Pakistani military actions, which Islamabad described as "counter strikes" against "unprovoked Afghan attacks."
Ceasefire collapses as clashes intensify
The latest violence marks a breakdown of the fragile ceasefire agreed in October, with both sides reporting heavy casualties. Residents in Kabul reported hearing loud explosions on Friday, while communities near Pakistan's border regions described ongoing gunfire and explosions.
Casualties and conflicting claims
Pakistan's Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, stated that two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three others injured after the Taliban launched an operation against military positions late Thursday. The Taliban, however, claimed its "large-scale" retaliatory strike had killed "numerous" Pakistani soldiers and captured others-a claim dismissed by Islamabad.
Taliban military spokesman Mawlawi Wahidullah Mohammadi said the operation began at 20:00 local time (15:30 GMT) Thursday, while chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid asserted that 15 Pakistani military posts had been captured. Pakistani officials denied these claims, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, vowing an "immediate and effective" response to all aggression.
Civilian impact and border closures
Residents near the Torkham border crossing reported heavy exchanges of fire, prompting authorities to evacuate the area. Officials also suspended the repatriation of deported Afghan nationals and closed the crossing to refugees due to the clashes.
Kabul accused Pakistan of targeting civilian homes and a religious school in earlier strikes, resulting in women and children among the dead. Islamabad, however, maintained its operations were directed at alleged militant camps and hideouts linked to recent suicide bombings in Pakistan.
History of border tensions
The two countries share a 1,600-mile (2,574 km) mountainous border, a frequent flashpoint for conflict. Despite the October ceasefire, recent days have seen renewed hostilities, with both sides accusing the other of initiating the violence.
"Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens,"
Pakistan Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
