Pakistan-Afghanistan Tensions: Pakistan Strikes Inside Afghanistan as Kabul Vows Response

PAKISTAN – Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions flared up after Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan’s southeastern territory on Sunday, with Kabul vowing appropriate and measured response.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry said the cross-border strikes hit “seven terrorist camps and hideouts” belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and the ISIS Khorasan group.

The ministry said it had “conclusive evidence” that recent suicide bombings, including one in the capital Islamabad, were planned and launched from Afghan territory.

Afghan broadcaster Tolo News reported that the airstrikes struck the Khogyani, Ghani Khel, and Behsud districts of the Nangarhar province, as well as the Barmal and Urgun districts in the Paktika province. Citing local sources, it said civilians were among those targeted.

“Sources told TOLOnews that following the airstrikes in Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, Pakistani forces also carried out strikes in the province’s Ghani Khel district, Nangarhar province and Behsud district, Nangarhar province,” the Afghan news channel wrote on US social media platform X.

It further said: “Sources add that in Behsud district, the home of a civilian identified as Shahabuddin was targeted. Pakistani forces also conducted airstrikes tonight in Barmal district, Paktika province and Urgun district, Paktika province.”

The outlet, citing security sources, reported that no casualties were recorded in the strikes on Barmal and Urgun districts.

In the channel’s Pashtu version it said that a religious sermon was struck in the Barmal district in Paktika.

In a separate post, TOLOnews said, “The Pakistani military has confirmed carrying out strikes on Afghan territory, claiming that seven hideouts belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) were targeted.”

It cited Nangarhar Police spokesperson Sayed Tayyeb Hammad who said 23 members of a family were trapped under the rubble after a civilian home was hit in the Behsud district. Four people have been rescued, with search and rescue operations ongoing.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote Sunday on X, “Certain Pakistani military circles have once again violated Afghan territory.”

“Last night, they bombed our civilian compatriots in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, martyring and injuring dozens of people, including women and children,” he said. “Pakistani generals are compensating for security weaknesses in their own country through such crimes.”

“Pakistan in a retributive response, has carried out intelligence based selective targeting of seven Terrorist camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban of Fitna al Khwarij (FAK) and its affiliates and Islamic State of Khorsan Province (ISKP) at the border region,” Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on X early Sunday.

The strikes came in the aftermath of recent suicide bombing incidents in Pakistan it said.

“Pakistan expects and reiterates Interim Afghan Government to fulfil its obligations and deny use of its soil by Khwarij and terrorists against Pakistan as the safety and security of people of Pakistan comes first and foremost,” the ministry added.

Pakistan vowed to avenge the killing of two security personnel on Saturday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning that it would not allow any attack launched from Afghanistan to go unanswered.

Enayatullah Khwarazmi, a spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry, and government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid both said the strikes had killed and wounded dozens of women and children.

Afghanistan Vows Response to Pakistani Strikes

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan said on Sunday it would meet the reported Pakistani strikes on its soil with an “appropriate and measured response” at a “suitable time.”

The ministry condemned the attacks “in the strongest possible terms” on US social media company X, describing them as a clear violation of national sovereignty, international law, principles of good neighborliness and Islamic values.

It said targeting civilian and religious centers demonstrates the Pakistani military’s intelligence and security shortcomings, and “such repeated acts of aggression will never be able to conceal their internal shortcomings.