In a major escalation of cross-border tensions, Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry confirmed on Saturday that its forces carried out retaliatory strikes within Pakistan. The move comes after a Pakistani airstrike in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province last week, which reportedly killed dozens, including women and children.
The Taliban Defence Ministry took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim responsibility for the operation, describing it as a response to “malicious elements” and their supporters, who are accused of orchestrating attacks on Afghan territory from across the border.
Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry stated that several locations, identified as centers and hideouts for “malicious elements” and their supporters responsible for coordinating attacks in Afghanistan, were targeted in a retaliatory strike from the southeastern region of the country.
Enayatullah Khowarazmi, spokesperson for the Afghan Defence Ministry, refrained from explicitly labeling the targeted areas as part of Pakistan. He clarified, “We do not consider it to be the territory of Pakistan, therefore, we cannot confirm the territory, but it was on the other side of the hypothetical line.”
The mention of the “hypothetical line” highlights Afghanistan’s ongoing rejection of the Durand Line, the colonial-era border drawn by British authorities in the 19th century. Afghan leaders have long disputed the legitimacy of the border, viewing the tribal belt along the line as a vital part of Afghanistan’s territory.
The Taliban Defence Ministry has not provided details on casualties or the specific locations of its retaliatory strikes. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have remained silent on the recent developments.
The situation escalated last Tuesday when Pakistani forces conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, reportedly targeting a militant training facility. However, Afghan officials claimed the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, igniting outrage and prompting warnings of retaliation from Kabul.
Pakistan defended its actions, stating the strikes targeted militant hideouts responsible for cross-border attacks in Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban government, however, has consistently denied accusations of harboring militants or allowing attacks on neighboring countries from Afghan soil.
The Durand Line continues to be a key point of contention in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. This rugged, porous border runs through tribal areas that have historically resisted centralized control. Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected the legitimacy of the Durand Line, with the Taliban government often referring to it as a “hypothetical line.”
This latest outbreak of violence underscores the fragile and contentious nature of relations between the two nations. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to curb militant activities along the border, pointing to the frequent attacks on its territory allegedly originating from Afghanistan.
The Taliban government, for its part, rejects these accusations, stressing that it does not permit Afghan soil to be used for attacks against any nation.
The escalating tensions threaten regional stability, with cross-border strikes exacerbating already fragile diplomatic relations between Kabul and Islamabad. Analysts caution that continued hostilities could further destabilize the volatile border region, heightening security concerns for both nations.
