Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict: Pakistan retaliates against Afghanistan; Kabul reverberates with explosions and the sound of planes

Three loud explosions and the sound of fighter jets were heard in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early Friday morning. These incidents occurred just hours after Afghanistan launched a retaliatory military offensive against Pakistan. The blasts have further escalated the situation in the capital amid escalating military tensions across the border. However, the exact location of the blasts and any possible casualties could not be immediately confirmed. This incident comes at a time when the situation along the border between the two neighboring countries is already volatile.

Afghanistan's counter-attack on Pakistan

The Afghan government has claimed a major military operation against Pakistan. Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in a social media post that the Pakistani regime's headquarters, located in the Anjar Sar area under the Babrak post in the Alisher-Terezi district of Khost province, has been captured. He said dozens of Pakistani soldiers were killed or wounded in the operation, and a large quantity of weapons were seized by Afghan forces.

In another update, he stated that a massive counter-military operation has been launched along the Durand Line. The operation is being carried out by the 203rd Mansoori Corps and the 201st Khalid bin Waleed Corps in several areas of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Kunar, Nuristan, and Nangarhar provinces, as well as at the Torkham Gate. In the post, Fitrat claimed that one headquarters and 19 outposts have been captured so far. Four outposts have been evacuated and completely burned.

According to the statement, 55 Pakistani soldiers have been killed, 23 of whom have been recovered, and several others have been captured alive. He also claimed to have seized dozens of light and heavy weapons, destroyed a tank, and captured an International Harvester vehicle. The deputy spokesperson's statement stated that the counter-military operation is ongoing and further details will be provided later.

Tensions Rise Along the Durand Line

Heavy exchanges of fire between the two countries were also reported at Torkham, another section of the border. Afghan authorities evacuated refugee camps near the border, while villagers on the Pakistani side were also evacuated to safety. According to reports, mortar shells fired from Afghanistan hit some Pakistani villages, although civilian casualties have not been confirmed. The 2,611-kilometer-long border, known as the Durand Line, has long been a point of contention. Afghanistan has not formally recognized it. Several exchanges of fire and clashes have occurred in this area in recent months.

What sparked the latest clash?

The incident began with a Pakistani airstrike on Sunday. Pakistan claims it targeted terrorist hideouts across the border, while Afghanistan claims that several civilians, including women and children, were killed in the strikes. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi stated that these precision strikes were carried out in response to recent terrorist incidents.

Tensions have steadily risen since the October clashes. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained since the violent border clashes in October, which left soldiers and civilians dead. A ceasefire was announced on October 19th under Qatar's mediation, but talks in Istanbul, Turkey, failed to reach a concrete and formal agreement. On October 9th, airstrikes were carried out against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bases in the Afghan capital, Kabul. The Taliban administration alleged that Pakistan carried out these attacks. While Pakistan did not directly accept responsibility for the attacks, it clearly warned the Taliban government that its territory should not be used to shelter organizations like the TTP.