18 Pakistani Soldiers Killed in Taliban Retaliation Following Pakistan’s Airstrikes in Afghanistan
At least 18 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in cross-border retaliatory operations by Taliban-led Afghan forces after Pakistan allegedly conducted airstrikes in Kabul and Afghanistan’s Helmand province earlier this week.
Mawlawi Mohammad Qasim Riaz, spokesperson for the Helmand provincial government, confirmed that Afghan troops launched overnight raids near the Durand Line in Bahrampur district, killing 15 Pakistani soldiers and capturing three military outposts along with weapons and ammunition.
The Taliban’s response targeted Pakistani positions across multiple Afghan border provinces including Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, Paktika, Paktia, Khost, Nangarhar, and Kunar. On Thursday, explosions were reported in both Kabul and Paktika. Afghanistan’s defence ministry accused Pakistan of violating its sovereignty through the strikes.
Defence ministry spokesperson Enayat Khowarazm told AFP the operations ended at midnight and warned Islamabad against repeating such actions, stating Afghan forces are “fully prepared to defend their territory.” While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the airstrikes, it has urged Kabul to act against Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants operating from Afghan soil.