Bhubaneswar/ India: In a sharp escalation of cross-border hostilities, Pakistan launched multiple airstrikes on Taliban-ruled Afghanistan during the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, targeting areas including Kabul and Kandahar.
Islamabad termed the offensive “Operation Ghazab Lil Haq,” claiming it struck key military facilities in response to what it described as “unprovoked firing” from across the border. Pakistani authorities said the action was retaliatory in nature, following attacks on its troops along the Durand Line.
Afghanistan condemned the strikes as “cowardly” and asserted that there were no casualties on its side. Pakistan, however, claimed the operation was “effective” and stated that 133 Afghans were killed, though the figures have not been independently verified.
Amid rising tensions, the federal government of Pakistan ordered a nationwide ban on all drone operations. The Ministry of Interior issued a notification restricting both commercial and private drone flights across the country, citing security concerns.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces were fully capable of “crushing” any aggression. In a statement shared via the government’s official X account, Sharif said the nation stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the armed forces.
Earlier, Taliban forces had reportedly attacked Pakistani troops deployed along the disputed Durand Line, describing it as retaliation for prior strikes. The boundary remains contentious, as Afghanistan has historically not formally recognised the colonial-era demarcation.
Bilateral relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated in recent months, with key land border crossings frequently shut during periods of heightened tensions. Observers warn that continued escalation could further destabilise an already fragile regional security environment.
-OdishaAge
