Afghan officials claim the Taliban carried out strikes on Pakistani border targets, injuring several people in Balochistan.
The Pakistani army reports it shot down four rudimentary drones and has warned that any further provocation will receive a “befitting response.”
These clashes followed a Sunday airstrike by Pakistan that UN figures say killed 28 civilians, reigniting tensions after a ceasefire was signed in October.
Pakistan has long accused the Taliban of harbouring militants that attack its soil—claims the Afghan government rejects—while Kabul has alleged Islamabad’s unprovoked strikes kill civilians.
The Pakistani operation also targeted militant hideouts in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces, claiming 29 fighters dead. The Afghan government describes the Sunday attack as an “atrocity” that hit civilian homes, with 36 dead and over 160 injured.
Border fighting has escalated in recent months: February saw dozens killed, March’s strike on a Kabul drug rehab centre killed hundreds and June’s deadly raids killed 26 militants, allegedly costing at least 13 civilians, largely children.
For more context, see BBC’s in‑depth piece on the long‑running conflict: Why Afghanistan and Pakistan are fighting?
