Taliban accuse Pakistan of conducting airstrikes on Afghan territory

Afghanistan's Taliban government accused Pakistan of launching airstrikes on its territory on Friday, escalating tensions between the neighboring nations over long-simmering allegations of militant safe havens on Afghan soil.

The Afghan Ministry of National Defense said "Pakistan has breached Afghanistan’s airspace. Its forces targeted a civilian market in the Margha area of Paktika province, near the Durand Line, and also violated the airspace over the capital, Kabul," a day after multiple late-night explosions and bursts of gunfire were reported across Afghanistan Thursday.

"We strongly condemn this violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty," the ministry said in a statement, calling it an "unprecedented, violent, and reprehensible in the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan."

The ministry warned that "if the situation escalates following these actions, the consequences will rest entirely with the Pakistani military."

Taliban against escalation

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also addressed the alleged strikes in a press conference during his ongoing visit to India, invoking Afghanistan's history of repelling foreign powers.

"The courage of Afghans should not be tested. If someone wants to do this, they should ask the Soviet Union, America and NATO, so that they can explain that it is not good to play games with Afghanistan," Muttaqi said.

He added that "there has been an attack near the border in remote areas. We consider this act of Pakistan wrong. Problems cannot be solved like this."

The Durand Line, a British colonial-era boundary that Afghanistan has never officially recognized, has been a persistent source of friction between the nations. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan of harboring militants who launch cross-border attacks, while Kabul rejects Islamabad's security concerns.

Muttaqi said Afghanistan wants "better relations with India and Pakistan, but it cannot be one-sided," adding that the country has achieved "peace and progress after 40 years" and "no one should have a problem with it."

Pakistan defends right to act

Responding to the allegations, Pakistan's military spokesperson said the country would take necessary steps to protect its citizens from cross-border terrorism. He, however, did not confirm carrying out the specific strikes.

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said during a press conference in Peshawar that Pakistan maintains "cultural and historical ties" with Afghanistan and has "hosted millions of Afghans over four decades."

"We ask them not to allow their soil to be used for terrorism against Pakistan," Chaudhry said, calling it "a rational request" and "our right."

When pressed again on whether Pakistan conducted strikes in Kabul the previous night, Chaudhry said, "Afghanistan is being used as a base for terrorism and there is proof of this." He added that the "status quo will not be tolerated anymore."