Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said on Thursday they had launched attacks on Pakistani military positions along the border in response to Pakistani air strikes carried out last week, as Pakistan said its forces had retaliated with return fire.
In a statement , the media office of Afghanistan’s eastern military corps said “heavy clashes” had begun “in response to the recent air strikes carried out by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Paktia” provinces.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on X that “large-scale offensive operations” had been launched against Pakistani military positions along the Durand Line “in response to repeated provocations.”
In a separate statement, he said “specialized laser units” were operating at night.
Mujahid also claimed that about 40 Pakistani soldiers had been killed in Kunar and warned that if Pakistan struck Kabul or other major cities, Afghanistan would “target their key centres and important cities.” He added that the Taliban was not seeking to expand the conflict but would retaliate if attacked.
Afghan security sources said fighters of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan had captured 13 Pakistani outposts during Thursday’s clashes. They said the posts were seized in the Goshta district of Nangarhar province and in areas near Kunar province.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on X later on Thursday that Pakistani troops had delivered an “immediate and effective response” to Taliban fire across “several sectors” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Military officials said early Friday that Pakistan had carried out additional strikes on the Afghan cities of Kabul and Kandahar.
Pakistani authorities said their “counter strikes” were carried out in response to “unprovoked Afghan attacks,” while the Taliban said their operations were retaliation for earlier Pakistani air strikes inside Afghan territory.