Pakistan Launches Airstrikes in Afghanistan Amid Escalating Border Violence
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Kabul and two other Afghan provinces early Friday, according to Afghanistan's government spokesperson. This action came hours after Afghanistan launched a cross-border attack into Pakistan, further straining relations between the neighboring nations and casting doubt on a Qatar-mediated ceasefire that had been in place.
Details of the Airstrikes and Retaliatory Attacks
At least three explosions were reported in Kabul, though the exact locations and potential casualties remain unclear. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistan also targeted Kandahar to the south and the southeastern province of Paktia. Two senior Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously, stated that the airstrikes aimed at Afghan military facilities, allegedly destroying two brigade bases, but did not provide casualty figures.
Afghanistan's military claimed it attacked Pakistan late Thursday in retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas the previous Sunday, asserting it had captured over a dozen Pakistani army posts. Pakistan dismissed these claims as unprovoked and denied any posts were taken.
Conflicting Casualty Reports and Border Tensions
The two sides presented widely differing casualty numbers. Afghanistan's Defense Ministry reported 55 Pakistani soldiers killed, with some bodies taken into Afghanistan, and eight of its own soldiers dead, along with 11 wounded. It also claimed destruction of 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases. In contrast, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated only two Pakistani soldiers were killed, with three wounded, and reported 36 Afghan fighters killed. A spokesperson for Pakistan's Prime Minister later increased the Afghan casualty count to 133 killed and over 200 wounded, with 27 posts destroyed and nine fighters captured.
Both nations also reported exchanges of fire in the Torkham border area. Afghan authorities evacuated a refugee camp after several refugees were wounded, including women and children, in a missile strike. On the Pakistani side, residents and Afghan refugees were moved to safer locations due to mortar fire from Afghanistan, though no civilian casualties were reported there.
Historical Context and Ongoing Tensions
Tensions have been high for months, with deadly border clashes in October killing dozens. The violence followed explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan, leading to previous strikes by Islamabad. A Qatar-mediated ceasefire has largely held but has been punctuated by occasional cross-border fire, and peace talks in November failed to yield a formal agreement.
On Sunday, Pakistan conducted strikes along the border, claiming to have killed at least 70 militants, a claim Afghanistan rejected, citing civilian casualties. Militant violence in Pakistan has surged in recent years, with Islamabad blaming groups like the Pakistani Taliban, which it accuses of operating from Afghanistan—a charge both deny.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has urged both sides to protect civilians and resolve differences through diplomacy, highlighting the international concern over the escalating conflict.
