Afghanistan says it launches attacks against Pakistan | News

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Afghan military source tells Al Jazeera 13 border outposts were captured as Pakistan denies that any posts were seized.

Afghanistan has launched attacks against Pakistan’s military positions along their border in response to Pakistani air strikes last week, Taliban authorities say, as Pakistan says its forces have responded.

The media office of Afghanistan’s military corps in the east said in a statement that “heavy clashes” began late on Thursday “in response to the recent air strikes carried out by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Paktia” provinces.

“In response ‌to repeated provocations and violations by Pakistani military circles, large-scale offensive operations have been launched ⁠against Pakistani military ⁠positions and installations along the Durand Line,” Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah ⁠Mujahid wrote in a post on X.

The countries’ 2,611km-long (1,622-mile-long) border is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognised.

An Afghan military source told Al Jazeera that 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed and that 13 outposts were captured.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said on X that Pakistani ⁠troops had delivered ⁠an “immediate and ⁠effective response” to Taliban fire across ⁠several sectors ⁠in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Taliban regime forces are being delivered punishment in Chitral, Khyber, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors. Early reports confirm heavy casualties on Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed,” the ministry said.

There was no immediate comment from Pakistan on the Afghan claim that 10 soldiers were killed.

Pakistan’s government spokesman wrote on X that no posts were captured or damaged.

Pakistani security sources told Al Jazeera that Pakistani forces have “inflicted heavy losses” across across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to “unprovoked Taliban aggression.”

Separately, a Pakistani security source told Al Jazeera that a number of Afghan soldiers fled from three locations targeted by Pakistani fire in retaliation for Afghan fire originating from those locations.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s military carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, saying it had killed at least 70 fighters. Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying civilians had been killed, including women and children.

Relations between the neighbours have plunged in recent months with land border crossings largely shut since deadly fighting in October killed more than 70 people on both sides.

Islamabad accuses Afghanistan of failing to act against armed groups that carry out attacks in Pakistan, which the Taliban government denies.

More to come …