Afghanistan's Taliban regime stated that it carried out strikes on targets along the border with Pakistan, resulting in injuries in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. In response, Pakistan's military reported shooting down four drones and issued a warning that any further provocations would be met with a strong response. The BBC has not independently verified the reports of the strikes.
The exchanges follow Pakistani airstrikes into Afghanistan on Sunday, which the United Nations reported killed 28 civilians. These incidents signal a resurgence in tensions after a period of relative calm, during which the two nations had agreed to a ceasefire in October following weeks of deadly clashes.
Historically, Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of sheltering militants responsible for attacks within Pakistan, a claim rejected by the Taliban government. Conversely, Kabul has accused Islamabad of conducting unprovoked attacks that result in civilian casualties, while Pakistan asserts its operations target only militants.
According to Afghanistan, Pakistan's Sunday attack hit civilian homes and resulted in a total of 36 civilian deaths and over 160 injuries, describing the action as a "cowardly act" and an "atrocity." Pakistan stated its operation involved ground forces and air strikes targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan's Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces, with the information minister, Attaullah Tarar, reporting that 29 militants were killed in retaliation for recent terrorist attacks.
Border skirmishes and airstrikes in the region have resulted in dozens of fatalities in recent months, according to officials from both countries. Previous incidents include clashes in February that left dozens dead, and a Pakistani strike in March on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul that reportedly killed hundreds. In early June, Pakistani airstrikes targeting militants reportedly killed 26 fighters, with Afghanistan's Taliban government reporting an additional 13 deaths, primarily children, in the same strikes.