Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen again after Pakistan carried out a military operation targeting alleged militant hideouts across the border. Islamabad said its forces killed 29 militants during a ground offensive followed by "calibrated strikes" on suspected militant bases inside Afghanistan. However, the Taliban government disputed Pakistan's account. Taliban officials said the strikes caused civilian casualties and condemned the attacks as an act of aggression.
Pakistan Says Operation Killed 29 Militants
Pakistan said its security forces launched the operation after gathering intelligence about militant activities near the border. According to Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, security forces destroyed three militant targets in Afghanistan's Paktia, Paktika, and Kunar provinces. He said the operation eliminated 29 militants after Pakistani forces carried out both ground operations and targeted airstrikes against militant hideouts.
Taliban Reports Civilian Casualties
The Taliban government strongly criticized the Pakistani strikes. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the attacks killed or injured dozens of civilians in eastern Afghanistan. He also described the operation as a "cowardly act of aggression". The Taliban's statement directly contradicted Pakistan's claim that the operation targeted only militant bases.
Karachi Terror Attack Triggered the Military Response
Pakistan launched the cross-border operation just one day after a deadly terrorist attack in Karachi killed four Pakistani Rangers personnel. On Saturday evening at around 8:30 pm, an explosives-filled vehicle rammed into a building belonging to Pakistan's paramilitary Sindh Rangers. Soon after the blast, heavily armed attackers entered the compound. They opened indiscriminate fire and threw hand grenades, triggering multiple explosions inside the complex.
Pakistani Security Forces Kill Six Attackers
Following the attack, authorities sealed the Rangers compound and instructed nearby residents to stay indoors. Pakistani security forces, including Rangers personnel, Special Security Unit (SSU) commandos, and the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF), launched a counter-operation.
The gunfight lasted nearly 90 minutes. During the operation, four Rangers personnel lost their lives. Security forces killed six terrorists and captured one injured attacker alive. Officials later identified the wounded suspect as an Afghan national.
Pakistan Taliban Faction Claims Responsibility
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack. The group is affiliated with the Pakistan Taliban, which maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban that returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Pakistani authorities said the latest military operation specifically targeted Jamaat-ul-Ahrar fighters, resulting in the deaths of 29 militants.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Conflict Continues
The latest operation marks another escalation in the strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Less than three weeks earlier, Pakistan also carried out airstrikes on what it described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly accused the Taliban government of allowing militants to use Afghan territory to launch attacks across the border. However, Kabul has consistently rejected those allegations and insists that Afghan soil is not being used to shelter or support militant groups.
Border Security Remains a Major Challenge
The Pakistan Taliban continues to be the biggest source of tension between Islamabad and Kabul. As militant attacks continue and both governments exchange accusations, the security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains volatile, raising concerns about further military escalation in the region.