After a large-scale battle last year, Afghanistan and Pakistan, which had reached a ceasefire, clashed again in the border region after four months.
According to AFP, AP, and Reuters on the 27th local time, the Afghan Ministry of Defense announced that it had conducted airstrikes in the border area across six provinces against Pakistan the previous night.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban regime, explained, “We launched a large-scale attack operation targeting Pakistani military bases and facilities in response to repeated intrusions by the Pakistani army.”
The Afghan military authorities added that their forces stationed in eastern Nangarhar and Kunar provinces focused their attacks on Pakistani posts.
After Afghanistan’s attack, Pakistan also immediately carried out a military response.
The Pakistani military launched air and ground attacks using firearms, artillery, and attack drones, targeting Taliban posts, headquarters, and ammunition depots in various border locations.
AP reported that in response to the Pakistani military’s counterattack, three explosions were heard in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
However, the location of the airstrikes within Kabul and the occurrence of casualties have not yet been confirmed.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are presenting conflicting claims regarding the initial casualty count from this armed clash.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Afghan Taliban regime spokesman, stated that 55 Pakistani troops were killed, and in Nangarhar province, 8 of their troops were killed, and 11 were injured.
On the other hand, the Pakistani Prime Minister’s Office claimed that 133 Afghan Taliban members were killed, and 2 of their troops were killed, with 3 injured.
Pakistan has consistently criticized the Afghan Taliban regime for tolerating armed group activities near the border, while Afghanistan has denied these accusations, leading to ongoing tensions.
[Photo source: AFP=Yonhap News]
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