Pakistan’s air force carried out pre-dawn airstrikes in Afghanistan, targeting what it said were militant and Taliban military positions, according to reports from Kabul.
The strikes were reported in several locations including Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia, amid months of cross-border attacks between the two neighbours. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has recently said a direct conflict with Afghanistan has begun.
Pakistan said the raids targeted Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants as well as Taliban command centres and weapons depots. Islamabad alleged the Taliban government in Afghanistan was providing shelter to militants, describing this as the reason for the operation.
Pakistan claimed more than 200 militants and Taliban fighters were killed in the strikes. The Taliban administration condemned the attacks, saying civilians were affected, and warned that it would respond in kind.
