Pakistan takes 'immediate' action against 'unprovoked' Afghan strikes

Pakistan said on Thursday night it had taken "immediate" action against Afghanistan after its neighbour launched "unprovoked" strikes that Kabul claimed had killed and captured multiple soldiers.

Afghanistan "opened unprovoked fire on multiple locations" across the border in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Islamabad's information ministry said on X, adding it was "being met with immediate, and effective response."

Earlier, Afghanistan attacked Pakistani forces at the border in response to deadly air strikes, and claimed it had captured Pakistani outposts, military and government officials said.

"In response to repeated violations by the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations," Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on X.

A military spokesman said Afghan forces in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar had started "heavy attacks on Pakistani outposts."

"So far, there are no casualties on Afghan side," said Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesman for the military in eastern Afghanistan.
The governor's office and residents in Kunar province also told AFP that military action was underway.

Taliban fighters patrol near the border in Spin Boldak, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. File / Reuters

Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban government's deputy spokesman, said "15 outposts have been captured" by Afghan forces.

The military operation follows Pakistani strikes on Nangarhar and Paktika provinces overnight into Sunday, which the UN mission in Afghanistan said killed at least 13 civilians.

The Taliban government said at least 18 people were killed and denied Pakistan's announcement that the military operation left more than 80 militants dead.

Both sides also reported cross-border fire on Tuesday, but without casualties.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months, with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October that killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against militant groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.

Pakistan's military launched its latest round of air strikes on Afghanistan following a series of deadly suicide blasts.

Agence France-Presse