Afghan Taliban forces have targeted “several points” in Pakistan, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense, days after Pakistani aircraft reportedly carried out aerial bombardments inside Afghanistan.
The ministry’s statement on Saturday did not directly name Pakistan, but said that the attacks were conducted “beyond the ‘hypothetical line’” — a phrase used by Afghan authorities to refer to the Durand Line.
“Several points beyond the ‘hypothetical line’, serving as centers and hideouts for ‘malicious elements’ and their supporters who organized and coordinated attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in retaliation from the southeastern direction of the country,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Taliban-affiliated media reported that the operation began around 4 a.m. on Saturday and continued for several hours.
Local Afghan radio station Hurriyat claimed that 19 Pakistani security personnel were killed during the operation and that fighting along the border has since ceased. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
Pakistan’s security sources confirmed to Voice of America (VOA) that the Taliban attacked four Pakistani border posts and other installations on Saturday. They added that no casualties were reported on the Pakistani side.
These incidents follow accusations by Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities that Pakistan killed 46 people — mainly women and children — described as “Waziristani refugees,” in air strikes near the border earlier this week.
Islamabad said it had targeted alleged hideouts of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants along the border, while Afghan authorities warned on Wednesday that they would retaliate.
“The Pakistani side should understand that such arbitrary measures are not a solution to any problem,” Enayatullah Khowarazami, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry, wrote on X.
“The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered and considers the defense of its territory an inalienable right,” he added.