Afghanistan carried out retaliatory airstrikes inside Pakistani territory on Thursday, targeting what officials described as ISIS hideouts in the border region. The military action came just 48 hours after a devastating suicide bombing in Kabul killed at least 36 civilians and wounded dozens more, an attack the Afghan government has blamed on the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K).
Cross-Border Military Response
The airstrikes, confirmed by both Afghan and Pakistani sources, struck areas near the Durand Line in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Enayatullah Khowarazmi stated that the strikes destroyed three ISIS-K training camps and killed an estimated 20 militants. “The targets were selected based on precise intelligence linking them to the Kabul attack,” Khowarazmi said in a press briefing.
This is the first confirmed Afghan airstrike inside Pakistan since 2017, signaling a significant shift in Kabul's military posture. The strikes were authorized by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who earlier vowed to retaliate against any group using Pakistani soil to launch attacks on Afghanistan.
Deadly Kabul Bombing Sparked Retaliation
The airstrikes follow Monday's suicide bombing in a crowded market in Kabul's Shash Darak neighborhood. The blast, claimed by ISIS-K, killed 36 civilians and injured 58 others, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the capital this year. Among the victims were women and children, according to hospital officials.
Afghan intelligence officials said the bomber was a Pakistani national who had crossed the border days before the attack. “We have evidence that the attack was planned and directed from across the border,” said a senior Afghan intelligence officer speaking on condition of anonymity.
Pakistan Condemns Violation of Sovereignty
Pakistan's Foreign Office swiftly condemned the airstrikes as a violation of its sovereignty. In a statement, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said, “Pakistan reserves the right to respond to any aggression. Such actions are counterproductive to regional peace and stability.”
However, Pakistani military sources acknowledged that the strikes hit areas where ISIS-K operatives are known to operate, but denied that any Pakistani territory was used for attacks on Afghanistan. Tensions between the two neighbors have long been strained over allegations that Pakistan harbors Taliban and ISIS militants.
Regional Implications and International Reaction
The United Nations called for restraint, with UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric urging both sides to avoid escalation. “We are concerned about any cross-border military action and urge dialogue to resolve differences,” Dujarric said.
The United States, which maintains a counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan, declined to comment directly on the airstrikes but reiterated its commitment to helping both countries combat ISIS-K. A State Department official said, “We continue to support Afghan-led efforts to degrade terrorist threats.”
The airstrikes come amid a broader uptick in violence in Afghanistan, where ISIS-K has intensified attacks despite ongoing peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Analysts warn that cross-border military actions could further destabilize the region.
Civilian Casualties and Aftermath
Local Pakistani officials reported that at least five civilians were killed and 12 injured in the airstrikes, though these figures could not be independently verified. Afghan officials denied any civilian casualties, claiming the strikes were precision-targeted at militant positions.
Residents in the border village of Angoor Ada described hearing multiple explosions late Thursday night. “We saw helicopters and then heard loud blasts. Many houses were damaged,” said a local shopkeeper.
Human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the civilian casualties. “Any military action that risks civilian lives must be thoroughly investigated,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International.
