Pakistan Launches Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan Targeting Taliban and ISIS

The Pakistani government announced it had launched airstrikes across the Afghan border targeting camps belonging to the Pakistani Taliban movement, while the Afghan Taliban threatened to respond to these operations. The strikes took place in border areas and have raised escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Details of the Military Operation

Specific Targeting Operations

Pakistani authorities revealed they had carried out “selective and precise” operations against seven locations belonging to the Pakistani Taliban movement. Islamabad confirmed these airstrikes were carried out based on precise intelligence information, targeting training camps and hideouts used by the armed group.

Strikes Against ISIS

The official Pakistani statement indicated that the operations also included targeted strikes against the local branch of the Islamic State (ISIS) present in the border areas. The government did not provide additional details about the nature of the targets or the scale of losses.

Afghan Taliban’s Response

Threat of Military Response

In response to the airstrikes, the Afghan Defense Ministry issued an official statement warning of the consequences of these strikes. The ministry pledged a “suitable and measured response” to what it described as a violation of Afghan sovereignty.

Nature of the Expected Response

The Afghan government did not reveal specific details about the form of the potential military response, but it confirmed that any aggression against its territory would not go unanswered. The Afghan statement came within hours of Pakistan’s announcement of the operations.

Background to Border Tensions

Escalation of Pakistani Taliban Activity

The border areas between the two countries have witnessed escalating tensions in recent months, with increasing attacks that Pakistan attributes to the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Islamabad has previously accused the Afghan government of providing safe haven for these groups.

Implications for Bilateral Relations

These airstrikes represent an unprecedented escalation since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The recent developments raise concerns about the deterioration of bilateral relations and the escalation of cross-border violence in a region suffering from chronic instability.