KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban said on Thursday evening that it had launched attacks on Pakistani military positions along Afghanistan’s eastern border in retaliation for recent Pakistani airstrikes, claiming to have seized at least seven posts.
Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban’s chief spokesperson, said in a post on X that the operation is a response to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military units. “Large-scale offensive operations are being launched against Pakistani military positions and installations along the border,” Mujahid said.
In a separate post, Mujahid claimed that Taliban forces had seized seven Pakistani posts in the border areas of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces.
Local Taliban authorities in Nangarhar province had earlier announced the start of the operation. Wahidullah Mohammadi, spokesperson for the Taliban’s 201 Corps in eastern Afghanistan, said the operation began at around 8:00 p.m. local time from positions in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces and is continuing. Taliban-controlled national television has also reported that the group’s retaliatory offensive is unfolding.
The Taliban said the attack is a response to Pakistani airstrikes conducted over the weekend in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, which the United Nations reported killed at least 13 civilians, including women and children. The group also accused Pakistan of targeting civilian areas, including a mosque, during the strikes.
Pakistan’s military said the airstrikes targeted camps and hideouts of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Islamic State affiliates in the region, claiming dozens of militants were killed.
Pakistani officials and media have not responded to the Taliban’s claims of attacks and the seizure of its posts.
Over the past two days, repeated clashes have erupted at multiple border points between Taliban fighters and Pakistani forces. While no casualties have been confirmed, sources report exchanges of gunfire and rocket fire in several border districts.
