Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Friday said that they successfully air striked terrorist and militant hideouts in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunwa provinces, a statement that the Pakistani government categorically denied.
According to a post on X, the government said that they struck these hideouts on Thursday night, the time and length of the operation was not disclosed. These bases were allegedly used in tandem with Anti-Afghanistani forces to carry out deadly attacks in Afghanistan. No claims of casualties or damage was provided.
Pakistan quickly denied these claims, saying that no attack was carried out and that only a singular drone was sent by the Taliban government, which was quickly intercepted and taken care of. Pakistan instead shifted the blame on Afghanistan, accusing them of sheltering terrorists in border regions.
Cross-border militancy has been a huge part of standoffs both countries have been part of since February, when Pakistan carried air strikes in Kabul and other provinces. Both countries have repeatedly accused each other of terrorist activities, with the relationship between the two worsening every month. Efforts by China to contain the skirmishes have been futile.
While Afghanistan has no fighter planes, they do operate helicopters and drones, used to strike Pakistan.