Afghanistan Launches Retaliatory Strikes After Pakistani Attacks Kill Four
Afghanistan has issued a strong response to Pakistani military strikes that targeted its two largest cities, the capital Kabul and Kandahar, resulting in the deaths of four individuals. This escalation marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two neighboring Islamic nations, occurring against a backdrop of what Islamabad previously characterized as an "open war."
Taliban-Led Government Targets Pakistani Military Installations
The Taliban-ruled Afghan authorities reportedly conducted retaliatory strikes aimed at strategic military centers and installations belonging to their nuclear-armed neighbor, Pakistan. According to a post on X from an account identified as Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defense, Afghan forces delivered a "befitting response" to Pakistan's "night-time" violations along the disputed Durand Line border.
The statement detailed: "In response to the Pakistani military regime's night-time violations of the Durand Line, Afghan air forces targeted strategic military centres and installations of Pakistani troops in the Kohat area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this morning."
It further asserted that the attacks destroyed the Kohat military fortress and precisely targeted the command center for the Durand Line conflict, along with the commander's office of the military fort, both located within two kilometers of the fortress.
Initial Pakistani Strikes Hit Afghan Cities
Earlier, Pakistan had launched strikes on Afghanistan, specifically hitting Kabul and Kandahar. These strikes from Islamabad reportedly damaged homes in the Afghan capital and destroyed a fuel depot at Kandahar airport, exacerbating tensions in the region.
The situation underscores the volatile nature of the border disputes and military engagements between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with both sides now engaging in direct attacks that have resulted in casualties and significant property damage.
