The Taliban administration has accused Pakistan of carrying out airstrikes inside eastern Afghanistan, alleging that the attacks caused significant destruction and resulted in civilian casualties in several border provinces.

The accusations came after Pakistan announced a military operation along the Afghanistan border on Sunday, saying the action was launched in response to a series of recent militant attacks within its territory. The latest developments have further heightened tensions between the neighbouring countries, whose relations have remained strained despite repeated diplomatic efforts.

Taliban Alleges Airstrikes In Eastern Provinces

Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft targeted areas in the eastern Afghan provinces of Paktika, Paktia and Kunar.

In a statement posted on X, Mujahid condemned the operation and accused Pakistan of attacking civilian areas.

He described the strikes as a “cowardly act of aggression” and criticised Islamabad for carrying out military action inside Afghan territory.

Taliban officials said the attacks caused substantial damage and led to dozens of civilian casualties, though independent verification of the claims was not immediately available.

Pakistan Says Operation Followed Militant Attacks

Pakistan said the operation was conducted in response to recent attacks targeting security personnel and civilians within the country.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said security forces had carried out a “well planned intelligence based ground operation” along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, supported by strikes in the frontier region.

According to Tarar, the operation followed multiple terrorist incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Karachi.

Pakistani authorities said 29 people were killed during the border operation.

Karachi Attack Preceded Border Escalation

The latest military action followed an attack on the provincial headquarters of the Pakistan Sindh Rangers in Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar area on Saturday night.

According to Pakistani officials, three paramilitary personnel and three attackers were killed after militants rammed a vehicle into the facility’s main gate before launching an assault.

The attack triggered heavy gunfire and security operations around the compound.

As reported by Al Jazeera, an affiliate of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a splinter faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fragile Peace Efforts Face Fresh Setback

The latest escalation comes less than three weeks after Pakistan carried out strikes targeting what it described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.

The operation has further strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul at a time when both countries had been engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing hostilities along their shared border.

Border clashes between the two sides have intensified since February, resulting in hundreds of deaths and repeated military confrontations.

Several rounds of internationally mediated talks have sought to establish a lasting ceasefire, but recurring violence has repeatedly undermined those efforts.

In April, China hosted talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan and announced that both sides had agreed to pursue measures aimed at reducing tensions and exploring peaceful solutions.

The latest cross-border operation, however, has raised fresh concerns about the stability of those understandings and the prospects for a sustained reduction in violence between the two countries.

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