AFGHANISTAN – Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, Afghanistan, killed at least 4 people and injured 15 others, according to authorities on Friday.

Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said “civilian” houses were hit in the Guzar area of Kabul’s 21st district, “leaving four people – including women and children – dead and 15 others injured.”

There was no immediate reaction from Islamabad, which launched its cross-border operation, dubbed “Ghazb Lil Haq,” in late February.

Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid alleged in a separate statement that Pakistan struck locations in Kabul, the southern province of Kandahar, as well as the eastern provinces of Paktia and Paktika.

Pakistani forces also reportedly hit a fuel depot near Kandahar Airport, Mujahid said on US social media company X.

Separately, the Afghan Defense Ministry claimed to have retaliated against Pakistani airstrikes by targeting “strategic military centers and facilities” of the Pakistani army in the Kohat area of the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Kabul-based Tolo News reported.

According to Pakistani media, Pakistan conducted overnight airstrikes inside Afghanistan “targeting militant infrastructure linked to the Afghan Taliban and the militant group Fitna al-Khawarij.”

“Pakistani forces also successfully targeted military installations during the strikes, expanding the scope of the operation beyond militant hideouts,” according to Islamabad-based Geo TV, citing Pakistani security sources.

With the fresh deaths reported in Afghanistan, the overall toll has risen to 99, including 13 soldiers and one civilian in Pakistan, and 13 soldiers and 72 civilians in Afghanistan.

According to UN data, 185 civilian casualties, including 56 deaths from indirect fire and aerial attacks, were reported in Afghanistan between Feb. 26 and March 5.

Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have deteriorated in recent weeks, with border tensions escalating last month and resulting in casualties and property damage.

Pakistan, which maintains it only targets terrorists, accuses Afghanistan of providing safe haven to militants who attack its territory, while Kabul denies the charge.

According to Pakistan Information Minister Ataullah Tarar, Islamabad has killed 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and militants, while Kabul claims 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, figures that could not be independently verified.