Pakistan said its armed forces are responding to an attack launched earlier Thursday by the Afghan Taliban, marking the latest spike in cross-border tensions between the two neighbors.
In a statement, Pakistan’s information ministry described the Afghan assault as “unprovoked,” adding that Taliban forces were being targeted in the Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram, and Bajaur sectors. Islamabad stressed it would take all necessary steps to safeguard its territorial integrity and protect its citizens.
Pakistani officials claimed early reports pointed to heavy Afghan casualties and the destruction of several military posts and equipment. There was no immediate response from Kabul.
Earlier that day, Afghan forces initiated operations against Pakistani positions, calling them retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes over the weekend on militant camps inside Afghanistan that reportedly killed at least 18 people.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, said Afghan troops had killed 40 Pakistani soldiers in Kunar province and seized 15 Pakistani border posts. He also stated that forces were deployed along the disputed 1,600-mile Durand Line separating the two countries. Pakistan’s military did not immediately comment, and the claims could not be independently verified.
According to Islamabad, the weekend airstrikes targeted camps of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, as well as affiliated groups and a faction linked to ISIS, which Pakistan blames for a recent surge of attacks.
Pakistan says it possesses firm evidence that recent deadly incidents were orchestrated by militants acting under the direction of leaders based in Afghanistan.
A fragile ceasefire has technically been in place since October, following the deadliest cross-border violence in years.
In a November interview with CNN, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan intended to eliminate the TTP leadership operating from Afghanistan and would use whatever means were available to do so.