Pakistan carried out air strikes on Thursday targeting 10 locations in Afghanistan used to store and launch drones, according to statements from Pakistani officials and regional spokespeople. The military actions follow what Islamabad described as an unlawful drone incursion from Afghan territory, escalating tensions between the neighboring countries after months of relative calm.
Pakistan Details Strikes on 10 Afghan Locations Following Drone Incursion
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated on X that the air strikes were deliberate, precise, calibrated, and proportionate, remaining strictly limited to identified military objectives directly linked to attempted attacks against Pakistan. Tarar condemned a deliberate and unlawful incursion into Pakistan by drones on Wednesday, calling it a blatant violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity and a grave and unacceptable act of aggression. According to Tarar, Pakistan’s air defence systems detected drones launched from Afghan territory on Wednesday, tracking and neutralizing them before they reached intended targets. Mustaghfir Gurbaz, spokesperson for the Khost governor, confirmed that the air strikes were conducted in several areas of Khost province in southeastern Afghanistan and reported that there were no casualties.
In southern Afghanistan, an air strike hit Kandahar city. A resident told the AFP news agency that they heard a jet followed by a large explosion and a fire in the center of the city. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Taliban government denied that their administration launched drones against Pakistan on Wednesday. Taliban officials also maintain that they do not harbor anti-Pakistani armed groups, arguing instead that militancy is Pakistan’s internal problem.
Did You Know? The worst single incident between the neighboring countries occurred in March, when more than 400 people were killed in a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul, which the Afghan Taliban said hit a drug rehabilitation centre while Islamabad maintained it precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, according to regional reporting.
Border Fighting Resumes Amid Cross-Border Accusations
The latest military actions follow an attack on a police facility in northwestern Pakistan last week that killed at least 21 people, an incident that reignited fighting after nearly three months of relative calm. A Pakistan Taliban faction claimed responsibility for that blast and the subsequent gun battle. Earlier in the week, Pakistani air strikes targeting three locations in northeastern Afghanistan killed three civilians in the Nurgal district of Kunar province, according to Afghan officials, while Islamabad stated it killed 28 terrorists.
Relations between the two former allies remain heavily strained. The renewed escalation threatens ongoing mediation efforts by China, Turkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to broker a lasting peace between the neighbors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Pakistani air strikes take place?
The air strikes on Thursday were conducted in several areas of Khost province in southeastern Afghanistan, according to the spokesperson for the Khost governor. Additional reporting noted an air strike hit the center of Kandahar city in southern Afghanistan, while earlier weekly strikes targeted three locations in the Nurgal district of Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan.
What reason did Pakistan give for launching the air strikes?
Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the strikes targeted 10 locations used to store and launch drones, citing a deliberate and unlawful incursion into Pakistan by drones launched from Afghan territory on Wednesday.
Did the air strikes cause any casualties?
Mustaghfir Gurbaz, spokesperson for the Khost governor, stated that there were no casualties in Khost province. However, Afghan officials reported that earlier air strikes on Monday in Kunar province killed three civilians.
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