Air Strikes On Kabul: Taliban Launches Retaliatory Attacks Against Pakistan Military Positions Along Border

Intense fighting erupted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border Saturday after Taliban forces launched retaliatory operations against Pakistani military positions.

The clashes followed air strikes by Pakistan in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan on Thursday. Islamabad has not confirmed the attacks though but has neither denied them.

Notably, Pakistan's attacks on Afghanistan occurred at the same time that the Taliban Foreign Minister was in India.

Frustration in Rawalpindi has been mounting for some time, and it is now spilling over into more overt forms of coercion. The recent air strikes in Kabul are the clearest manifestation of this frustration.

Rawalpindi’s patience with Kabul is wearing thin as the Taliban continue to prioritise their own autonomy over Pakistan's interests.

The escalation also reflects deepening tensions over the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has intensified attacks on Pakistani security forces since 2021. Pakistan demands Afghanistan stop harbouring TTP militants who allegedly use Afghan territory as a staging ground for cross-border operations. The Taliban government denies these accusations.

Cross-border attacks by the TTP, which Islamabad once assumed would be curtailed by its Afghan allies, have become increasingly brazen.

Afghan Taliban spokesman Enayatullah Khwarizmi reported that Taliban military operations had concluded successfully, warning of decisive responses to future territorial violations.

Fighting occurred at multiple points with Pakistani officials confirming exchanges of heavy artillery fire at four border locations, according to reports.