Kabul reported on March 13 that Afghanistan has launched drone strikes aimed at military facilities within Pakistan’s Kohat area, as stated by the Afghan Ministry of Defence. The targeted strikes struck the Kohat Military Fort, recognized as a significant command center along the Durand Line, leading to substantial damage to both the site and the commander’s office.

Kabul Calls Strikes Retaliation for Pakistani Attacks

In a statement released on X, the Ministry detailed that military installations associated with the fort, its command center, supply depots, and residential quarters for soldiers were severely impacted. This resulted in considerable human casualties and material losses. The actions by Afghan forces were described as a retaliatory measure following previous military strikes by Pakistan in the Alisher-Terezai district of Khost province, located near the disputed Durand Line.

Fuel Depots Near Kandahar Also Hit

Casualties from the Pakistani artillery fire included four fatalities from a single family, alongside injuries to three others. Additionally, the Pakistan Air Force conducted strikes against fuel depots of Kam Air, a private airline located near Kandahar Airport in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Kam Air provides fuel for domestic airlines as well as for aircraft operated by the United Nations. Mujahid accused Pakistan of having earlier attacked the fuel storage facilities of a national trader, Haji Khan Zadah.

Rising Military Tensions Along the Durand Line

The recent drone strikes highlight escalating tensions and an ongoing exchange of military actions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly along the Durand Line, which has seen a rise in hostilities since February. Pakistani forces have launched air strikes targeting areas in Afghanistan, including the capital, Kabul, amidst increasing clashes along the border.

Dispute Linked to Militant Groups and Border Control

The longstanding Durand Line dispute, stemming from the Taliban’s return to governance in 2021, has intensified friction between the two nations. Pakistan demands that the Taliban take measures to control militant groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of harboring. The TTP, which emerged in Pakistan in 2007, operates independently of the Taliban in Afghanistan but maintains strong ideological and social connections with the group.

Violence Increasing in Border Regions

Violence perpetrated by the TTP has seen a notable increase over recent years, alongside actions by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is active in Balochistan, a province rich in resources. Regions bordering Afghanistan, specifically Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, have experienced the brunt of this intensified violence.

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