Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Defence has claimed that its air force carried out cross-border airstrikes on alleged Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) positions in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, saying the sites were being used to plan attacks against civilians inside Afghanistan.
According to the ministry, several ISIS fighters were killed during the operation, while warning that “every centre and location from which threats are directed against the security and sovereignty of Afghanistan will be targeted.”
The development comes only days after Pakistan conducted air operations inside Afghanistan, which the Taliban alleged killed dozens of civilians, including women and children.
While Afghanistan maintains that the strikes were a defensive response against extremist threats, Pakistan has long accused the Taliban administration of failing to curb militant groups operating from Afghan territory.
The latest exchange has further strained already fragile relations between the neighbouring countries, raising fresh concerns over regional security and the growing threat posed by cross-border militancy.
Taliban Defends Airstrikes
The Taliban administration described the operation as a necessary measure to protect Afghan civilians from planned ISIS-K attacks. In a statement, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence said its air force targeted “centres belonging to the Fitna al-Khawarij group” the term the Taliban commonly uses to refer to ISIS-K in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The ministry claimed the locations were being used to organise attacks inside Afghanistan and said several militants were killed, although it did not provide independent evidence or casualty figures.
The statement further warned that “any place from which threats are launched against Afghanistan’s security will be considered a legitimate target,” signalling a tougher stance against cross-border militant networks.
The strikes mark one of the most significant cross-border military actions publicly acknowledged by the Taliban since returning to power in August 2021. Pakistani authorities have not immediately confirmed the Afghan claims, and independent verification of the reported operation remains unavailable.
Security analysts note that ISIS-K has emerged as one of the Taliban government’s most formidable security challenges, carrying out repeated bombings and attacks across Afghanistan despite sustained counterterrorism operations.
The group’s presence has complicated regional security calculations, with both Kabul and Islamabad accusing each other of failing to prevent militants from exploiting their shared border.
Escalating Border Tensions
The latest strikes come against the backdrop of worsening relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, driven by persistent accusations over cross-border militancy and border security. Just days before the reported Afghan operation, Pakistan conducted airstrikes inside Afghanistan, claiming to target militant hideouts linked to attacks on Pakistani security forces.
The Taliban administration condemned those strikes, alleging that they resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians and describing them as violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban of allowing militants affiliated with groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to operate from Afghan territory, a charge Kabul has consistently denied.
Conversely, the Taliban has alleged that ISIS-K militants have found sanctuaries across the border in Pakistan, claims Islamabad has also rejected. These competing narratives have fuelled a cycle of retaliation, diplomatic friction and military posturing despite periodic efforts to improve bilateral relations.
The porous and mountainous Durand Line, which serves as the de facto border between the two countries, has long been a flashpoint for security disputes, with armed clashes, border closures and mutual accusations becoming increasingly frequent over the past few years.
Regional observers warn that continued military exchanges risk undermining efforts to combat extremist groups collectively while exposing border communities to greater insecurity and humanitarian challenges.
The latest developments also come at a time when both countries are grappling with internal security threats, economic pressures and international scrutiny over counterterrorism efforts.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The latest cross-border strikes underscore how cycles of retaliation between neighbouring countries can deepen instability rather than resolve it. While every government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from terrorism, military action across international borders carries significant risks, particularly when claims remain contested and civilian populations may be caught in the crossfire.
Sustainable security cannot rely solely on force; it requires credible intelligence-sharing, diplomatic engagement, accountability and coordinated efforts to dismantle extremist networks without endangering innocent lives. As violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan intensifies, the humanitarian consequences for communities living along the border deserve equal attention alongside strategic and political considerations.
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