Pakistan’s cross-border attacks into Afghanistan raises tensions

Pakistan has conducted overnight air attacks inside Afghanistan, while the Taliban claimed hours later to have fired across the border, the Al Jazeera reported.

Tensions flared on Monday between Islamabad and Kabul following the overnight raids, with Pakistan claiming the attack had targeted armed groups hiding out in border regions, while the Taliban said civilians were killed.

Pakistani military and foreign ministry sources confirmed the “retaliatory” attacks had targeted the hideouts of commanders of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, due to “terrorist activities being sponsored and conducted from across border”.

Afghanistan’s interim government said the Pakistani jets had hit the houses of “ordinary people” in Paktika and Khost provinces. They reported that five women and three children were killed, strongly condemning the “reckless action” which is a violation of Afghanistan territory.

Tension has risen between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Islamabad claims that hostile armed groups carry out regular attacks from across the border.