Afghan forces struck militant hideouts in Pakistan, Taliban says

The Afghan Taliban's defense ministry announced that Afghan forces carried out "air strikes" on militant hideouts in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The ministry stated on X that these targeted bases, allegedly used in cooperation with "hostile intelligence circles" to plan attacks against Afghanistan, were struck by the "air force" on Thursday night. This action marks Kabul's first major offensive operation in months and has reignited tensions between the two neighboring countries.

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These bases, allegedly used in cooperation with certain hostile intelligence circles to plan and organize attacks against Afghanistan, had previously served as staging grounds for several deadly attacks.

The ministry asserted that the operation successfully hit its key pre-designated targets, without providing details on casualties. Afghanistan, while lacking fighter jets, is known to possess aircraft and helicopters, and the Taliban forces are also reported to have drones. The targeted bases were described as staging grounds for several deadly attacks against Afghanistan.

This development follows a period of heightened conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has resulted in hundreds of deaths this year. Previous mediation efforts by China have failed to ease the tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring militants who plot attacks within Pakistan, an allegation the Afghan Taliban denies, framing militancy as Pakistan's internal issue.

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According to preliminary information, the operation successfully hit its key pre-designated targets.

Last week, Pakistan conducted air strikes on Afghan provinces, which the Afghan Taliban claimed killed at least 13 people, including 11 children, and injured 14. Islamabad described these as "calibrated strikes" in response to recent attacks in Pakistan's northwest, stating they killed 26 militants. The Afghan Taliban defense ministry declared, "Afghanistan will no longer tolerate any threat to its security and stability. It will use all available means and capabilities to neutralize and eliminate any threat at its source."

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Afghanistan will no longer tolerate any threat to its security and stability. It will use all available means and capabilities to neutralize and eliminate any threat at its source.