Pakistan hit by Afghanistans targeted attacks, escalating regional tensions

Afghanistan Launches Air Strikes Against Pakistani Targets

A series of air strikes was carried out by Afghanistan’s defense ministry against targets located in Pakistan, according to a statement released by the Afghan government. The strikes were reported to have taken place on Thursday night and targeted what the Afghan government described as “hideouts used by armed groups” and “hostile intelligence circles” within Pakistan.

The locations of the strikes were identified as being in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both of which share a border with Afghanistan. The Afghan defense ministry stated that the targets were allegedly used to plan and organize attacks against Afghanistan, and that one of the sites targeted was a facility frequented by senior leaders of the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) group.

Pakistan’s Information Ministry has rejected the Afghan government’s report on the strikes, according to an unverified report. The incident is the latest development in the fragile ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have experienced several periods of hostilities in recent months.

The strikes are believed to be the first major offensive action claimed by the Afghan government in months. However, details of how the attack was carried out remain unclear, as Afghanistan does not possess fighter jets but is known to possess aircraft and helicopters. The Taliban forces have also been reported to use drones in fighting with Pakistan.

The incident has raised tensions between the two countries, which have struggled to maintain a fragile peace since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained due to accusations of harboring armed groups that launch attacks across their shared border.

Source: Al Jazeera