Kandahar (Rajeev Sharma): Pakistan has acknowledged carrying out a new round of air and drone attacks inside Afghanistan, with reports indicating that the southern city of Kandahar was among the areas hit during an overnight operation.
The strikes mark another sharp escalation between the two neighbouring countries, which have been locked in a growing dispute over militant activity and cross-border attacks.
Residents in Kandahar reported hearing aircraft overhead before a powerful blast shook the city. A fire was subsequently seen in the area, although details about the extent of the damage remained limited.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the military had targeted 10 locations in Afghanistan. He described the operation as a targeted response to what Islamabad says are security threats originating from Afghan territory.
According to Pakistani authorities, the strikes focused on locations allegedly connected with attacks against Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban authorities of allowing militant groups to maintain bases and support networks inside Afghanistan.
Attacks reported in eastern provinces
Afghan officials also reported Pakistani airstrikes in the eastern provinces of Paktia and Khost.
In Paktia, officials said aircraft targeted the 203rd Mansouri Corps, while authorities in Khost reported another strike but said there were no casualties there.
The latest attacks follow Pakistani military action earlier in the week. Pakistan claimed that 28 militants were killed in those operations, while the United Nations reported that at least three civilians died.
The two countries remain sharply divided over the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Islamabad says the militant organisation has been able to operate from Afghan territory and has blamed it for a series of attacks inside Pakistan. Afghan authorities have rejected the allegations and accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty.
Violence continues despite ceasefire efforts
The latest escalation comes months after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire following intense fighting. Attempts by several countries to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul have so far failed to produce a lasting settlement.
Tensions were further heightened after a militant assault on a police headquarters in northern Pakistan left at least 31 people dead. A group linked to the TTP claimed responsibility for that attack.
While cross-border clashes have occurred repeatedly, attacks on major Afghan cities remain relatively unusual. Kandahar and Kabul were previously targeted during the fighting that erupted between Pakistan and Afghanistan earlier this year.
With both governments continuing to blame the other for worsening security conditions, the latest strikes have added another layer of uncertainty to already strained relations along the border.
