Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry announced Saturday that its forces targeted several locations inside Pakistan in response to deadly airstrikes carried out by Islamabad earlier in the week.
The airstrikes, conducted by Pakistan on Tuesday, targeted a training facility in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, reportedly killing dozens, including women and children. In a statement on X, the Taliban’s Defense Ministry claimed its retaliatory strikes hit areas in Pakistan that served as “centers and hideouts for malicious elements and their supporters” responsible for attacks in Afghanistan.
Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khwarzami did not provide details about the nature of the strikes or information on casualties. However, pro-Taliban media outlet Hurriyet Daily News reported that the Afghan strikes killed 19 Pakistani troops, while three Afghan civilians also lost their lives in the violence, according to Associated Press (AP).
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has not issued an immediate response. Islamabad, however, has previously accused the Taliban of failing to prevent cross-border militant activity. The Taliban government denies these allegations, asserting that no attacks are launched from Afghan soil.
On Thursday, Pakistan confirmed its airstrikes in Afghanistan, describing them as an intelligence-based operation targeting militant hideouts. Islamabad defended the action as necessary for safeguarding its citizens but faced strong condemnation from Kabul, which called the strikes a “brutal act.” Afghan officials said the attacks killed at least 46 people, including women and children, and caused extensive damage to homes.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, addressing the weekly press briefing, said the operation was launched in response to “threats to the security of Pakistani citizens.” Sources indicated that Pakistan targeted four locations of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in Paktika province, killing several insurgents.
The Afghan Taliban regime has strongly protested the airstrikes, warning of retaliation, a promise that appears to have been fulfilled with Saturday’s actions.