KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban Ministry of Defense claimed that its forces targeted “several points” inside neighboring Pakistan in retaliation for airstrikes earlier this week.
In a post on X today, the ministry, without specifying Pakistan, said that the strikes targeted several points “beyond the assumption lines,” alleging that these locations were used to organize and coordinate attacks on Afghanistan.
The ministry said, “Several points beyond the assumptive lines where the attacks in Afghanistan were organized and coordinated from wicked elements’ hideaways, centers, and supporters; were targeted in retaliation from the southern side of the country.”
The Taliban did not provide additional details about the attack, including the specific locations targeted.
Pakistani officials have not yet confirmed the Taliban attack or reported any casualties.
The Taliban Ministry of Defense warned on Wednesday that they would retaliate following the Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Paktika province, which they claimed killed and injured over 50 people, including women and children.
Pakistan says it targeted the hideouts of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for dozens of deadly attacks in the country.
Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Islamabad accuses the Taliban of harboring militant groups like the TTP, training them, and equipping them with modern weaponry to destabilize the region.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly called on the Taliban to take action against the militant groups, disarm them, and surrender their leader to Islamabad. However, the Taliban denies the presence of TTP and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid once said that the Afghan Taliban is not responsible for Pakistan’s internal security challenges.
