Pakistani security forces foiled an attempted cross-border attack in the Gulistan area on Friday with killing several Afghan Taliban fighters during an exchange of fire according to Pakistani security sources.
The clash marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the neighboring nations following a week of military retaliation. On Thursday Pakistan launched air and drone strikes against 10 locations in Afghanistan's Kandahar, Paktia and Khost provinces targeting what Islamabad described as terrorist hideouts and drone launch sites. Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated the aerial raids were in response to an unlawful Afghan drone incursion into Pakistani territory.
Afghanistan's government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied launching drones and warned that Kabul would deliver an appropriate response to the strikes.
Relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated over cross-border militant activity. Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring insurgents who launch attacks inside Pakistani territory, a charge Kabul denies also maintaining that militancy is Pakistan’s internal issue.
The recent surge in hostilities follows last week's attack on a northwestern Pakistani police facility that left 24 dead. The escalating border clashes threaten regional peace and ongoing diplomatic mediation efforts led by China, Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
